ARTH. Not at all! But why are you in such a hurry to go? MYRT. To allow you more leisure for (_imitating ARTHUR'S yawn_)--you know! ARTH. Oh, Myrtle--do you object to my calling you Myrtle? MYRT. You should have asked that question before you _did._ ARTH. If my tongue has been silent, surely my eyes must have spoken for me? MYRT. (_stiffly_). Mr. Vallance, you forget yourself! ARTH. Because I was thinking of you (_tenderly_). MYRT. (_aside_). This is getting too serious. (_Aloud._) But you really must excuse me. I have my plants to attend to--a favorite creeper especially that requires nailing up. ARTH. Let me go with you. I'll make myself so useful--you'll see how hard I'll work. I'll hold the ladder for you, and hand you up the hammer and tin-tacks! MYRT. What an exertion! And all for me! Ha! ha! ha! ARTH. (_annoyed_). I see how it is, madam; you've no feeling, or you wouldn't treat me so cruelly, so capriciously! If you had the slightest particle of regard for me, you'd let me hand you up the hammer and tin-tacks! MYRT. You accuse _me_ of caprice! _you,_ who never knew what it is to be in earnest! ARTH. I am so _now,_ I assure you. MYRT. Then listen to me, Arthur Vallance. Let me see that you possess some energy, some enthusiasm, some strength of will, then I may, perhaps, give you a better answer. Good-morning. [_Goes out at C. towards R._ ARTH. (_calling after_). Stop, Myrtle! _Do_ let me come and hand you up the hammer and tin-tacks! So! I'm to do something energetic, am I? Drown myself in the duck-pond? Yes!--no. I have it! I'll say good-by to Fritterly, and cut this place at once! And then, Miss Vane, perhaps you'll be sorry--perhaps you'll regret that you didn't let me hand you up the hammer and tin-tacks! Let me see, there's an express to town at three. (_Looking at his watch._) I can catch that. My traps can follow (_hurrying up towards door L. H., and coming into collision with SIR FELIX, who enters at the same time_). SIR F. Holloa, old fellow, where the deuce are you off to in such a hurry? ARTH. Don't ask me--I'm going out of my mind! SIR F. The deuce you are! Well, if I may judge by appearances, it won't take you very long to get to the end of _that_ journey! Confound it, man, will you explain? ARTH. Well, you know the feelings I entertain towards Miss Vane? SIR F. Myrtle? Yes. ARTH. Well, you'll hardly believe it; but when I proposed to her just now-- SIR F. You proposed to her? (_astonished_). ARTH. Yes--to hand her up the hammer and tin-tacks-- SIR F. (_astonished_). Hammer and tin-tacks? What the deuce are you talking about? ARTH. (_helplessly_). I'm sure I don't know--yes, I do. She said that when I showed a little energy--a little enthusiasm--a little something else, she'd perhaps give me a better answer. SIR F. A better answer! What on earth can that mean?