MRS. MAJOR. Simply this, that I am more than ever indignant at your preposterous and odious suspicions. FANNY (_suddenly confronting MAJOR_). So am I! You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Jeremiah! and so ought you, mamma, and so ought everybody! And what's more, I'm determined that poor, dear, innocent Georgina shall be no longer unjustly accused! MRS. P. } } What's that? MAJOR. } FANNY. I dare say I shall be scolded, but I'm used to that; in fact, I rather like it; and after all it was sure to be found out sooner or later; in a word--that letter-- MRS. P. Well? FANNY. Was intended for _me!_ MRS. MAJOR (_aside to her_). Fanny! FANNY (_aside to her_). Hush! I'm engaged in a little business of _my own_ now! MRS. P. For you? FANNY. Yes! although I particularly told him not to write to me. MRS. P. Told him? Told _who?_ FANNY. Augustus! MRS. P. Who's Augustus? FANNY. _My_ Augustus, of course! MRS. MAJOR. I can confirm Fanny's words, having been in possession of the whole particulars for the last hour. MAJOR. Have you? Then, perhaps, you can furnish us with Augustus's other name--_if_ he's got one (_satirically_). MRS. MAJOR. Certainly--Noodle. FANNY (_very quickly_). No--Boodle! DOCTOR. Augustus Boodle? Let me see! of course! I first met him at Cheltenham! FANNY. So did I. DOCTOR. He was only a lad then, and was going into the army--to distinguish himself, as he said. FANNY. I can't say whether he did distinguish _himself,_ but I know that he very soon distinguished _me!_ DOCTOR. The Boodles of Gloucestershire. There's not a more respected family in the county! Come, my dear Mrs. Pelican, if you'll take my advice, you'll not hesitate in accepting Augustus Noodle--I mean Boodle--as a son-in-law! MRS. P. Well, I'll think the matter over, and then, perhaps, I may say yes. FANNY (_coaxingly_). Suppose you say yes first, mamma, and think the matter over afterwards? MRS. P. (_ironically_). But, Fanny, what about a certain party of "_maturer years,_" on whose _experience_ you proposed to rely? FANNY. Let me ask you, mamma, would it have been dutiful in a daughter to deprive her mother of the object of her early affection? MAJOR. What's that? "Early affection!"--"object!" MRS. P. Yes; there stands the object (_pointing to DOCTOR_). In a word, I have been induced to accept the hand of Doctor Prettywell, from his many amiable qualities and (_aside to DOCTOR_) his _constancy._ Here, Vicessimus (_holding her hand out to him_). DOCTOR. Thanks, Cleopatra (_taking her hand and kissing it_). MAJOR (_very timidly to MRS. MAJOR_). Georgina, can you forgive your Jeremiah? I don't know how I may _look,_ but you've no idea how _small_ I feel. MRS. MAJOR. This once I do! but remember, this once _only._ There (_giving her hand to MAJOR_). MAJOR. Then, in spite of all petty domestic discords, everybody is happy at last. FANNY. Which only proves the truth of the old adage, that "After a storm comes a calm."