Marie. You know, dear, your future home---- Gertrude. Ah, yes; those stupid furnishings! Do you know, I don't think a wedding half so much fun as Christmas. Now don't be long, will you? [_Exit_.] [_Pause_.] George. Why so deep in thought, suddenly? Marie. I--? Oh, I was thinking. I was picturing to myself that cosy little nook, your corner room! George. Marie, dear, how can I ever thank you for all the---- Marie. Don't speak of it, George, for I take great delight in having the furniture moved about; and then, I say to myself: "Here is where they will take their tea, and there they will while away their leisure hours"--so---- But, what I meant to tell you! Yesterday we had an accident--the large mirror in the parlor was broken. I know it portends ill---- George. What care I, so long as our friendship will not be broken. Marie. But why should it? George. It shall never be my fault, Marie. Marie. Certainly never mine. But what I wanted to say,--I had the large mahogany bookcase repolished. Is that satisfactory? George. Anything you choose to do is satisfactory to me. Marie. [_Hesitatingly_.] And then--I must tell you, George, something important. When I unpacked the bookcase, I found a blue manuscript. George. [_Unsuspecting_.] What kind of a manuscript? Marie. George, you must not leave that lying around--not even hidden behind the books, especially now, when you take your wife to your home. George. In heaven's name, what manuscript? Marie. I believe--it contains some poems---- George. You believe--it contains some poems. I have missed it since early last winter; I thought I had lost it. Marie, now tell me truthfully, have you read its contents? Marie. N--no! George. Then why do you tell me not to leave it around? Marie. Well, I read the first part, and had begun on the second, when I concluded to go no further. George. And you really looked no further than the first? Absolutely no further? Marie. No. George. Can you swear to that? Marie. I can! George. Then swear! Marie. I swear! Are you satisfied?