FANNY. You asked me if I had any one in my eye, and I said I _had,_ but I didn't tell you he was a _young_ man. The fact is, mamma, I've been so often told that I am so giddy, so thoughtless, so flighty, that I selected some one of _maturer_ years; he would give me the benefit of his experience--his advice--his--his-- MRS. P. Maturer years? FANNY. Yes! Besides, he has known me so long!--ever since I was a tiny little mite. He used to dandle me on his knee, and buy me dolls and toys and sweeties and hardbake and elecampane, and all that sort of thing! MRS. P. (_aside_). Known her for years! (_Suddenly._) Mercy on us! can she be alluding to "Vicessimus?" FANNY. But, ma dear, that which attracted more than all was the respectful, I may say the _affectionate,_ terms in which he always speaks of _you._ MRS. P. Does he? (_Aside._) Poor fluttering heart, be still! Dear Vicessimus! He hain't, then, quite forgot his Cleopatra! (_Aloud._) But is DOCTOR PRETTYWELL--for it surely must be _he_ to whom your remarks apply-- FANNY. Yes, mamma. MRS. P. (_aside_). I thought so. (_Aloud._) Is he aware of your somewhat foolish partiality? FANNY. I think so. He'll tell you why! Whenever he used to call, and we happened to be sitting side by side--I mean you and I, mamma--I noticed that he always kept his eye fixed on us, and it always made me blush so. MRS. P. (_aside_). Poor simple child. She flatters herself that it was on _her_ that Vicessimus's enamoured glances were riveted. FANNY. And don't you recollect the last time he took us to the theatre, how attentive, how polite he was to you? MRS. P. Yes. I remember he brought me three oranges and an ounce of acidulated drops into our box. FANNY. And if you only had heard him just now, when I told him how shamefully you had been treated here! "What!" he exclaimed, turning quite red in the face and tearing his hair out in handfuls. "What! Dare to offer such an affront to so good, so amiable, so excellent a woman--a woman born to command, born to be beloved!" MRS. P. Did he? _Enter JOSEPH at R. H._ JOSEPH. Please, ma'am--and wishes to know if you are disengaged? MRS. P. I'll come to him. (_Exit JOSEPH R. H._) How shall I meet him? how conceal my feelings? Once more, poor little fluttering heart, be still! (_Aside, and looking at FANNY_). Poor Fanny! I shall be sorry to cut her out; but constancy like Vicessimus's deserves, and shall have, its reward! [_Exit at R. H._ FANNY. There! I flatter myself I've managed that rather cleverly. I've given tranquillity to Jeremiah, happiness to Georgina; I've got mamma a husband, and-- But stop a bit! who's to get one for _me?_ Oh dear, dear! I haven't half done yet! _Enter MRS. MAJOR very hurriedly at C._ MRS. MAJOR. Oh! what shall I do? what shall I do? FANNY. Georgina dear, what's the matter?