MRS. CARLEY. Good gracious. Well, I'll go upstairs and get into something _loose_. I'll be ready in ten minutes. [_She goes out Right._ LOUISE. I must see the children; I haven't seen them to-day. [_She follows her mother out._ BELLA. Miss Carley. GEORGIANA. Yes, Bella. BELLA. Mr. Coleman, Lieutenant Coleman, is going to the Philippines to-day. GEORGIANA. [_Sighing involuntarily._] Yes, Bella. BELLA. I've got a friend going along. GEORGIANA. In the company? BELLA. Yes--well, I don't mind telling you--he's my young man, Miss Carley. GEORGIANA. Why, Bella, I didn't know you were engaged? BELLA. Well, I don't know as you'd call it exactly, yes I _would_ say as we _was_ engaged--though I haven't got a ring. But we're going to get married when he comes back, if hugging and kissing is binding, which I _guess_, with witnesses! He wanted to give me a ring of his mother's, but I said "No," I wouldn't take that, it was sacred and he'd always wore it. You see it was an old-fashioned-looking sort of onyx stone with oyster pearls, and not for me--I'd rather wait. GEORGIANA. You have an eye out on the main chance, Bella. BELLA. Well, I wasn't born yesterday. Say, all the girls was crazy about him. I met him to dancing school Tuesday evenings at Adelphi Hall and we started right in, every Sunday night to church and every Saturday to the theatre. He enjoyed Sundays best and I Saturdays, but I felt it was because church was cheapest. He's dreadful economical. GEORGIANA. You get more attention than I do from my soldier. You at least have the consolation of knowing you're the girl he's left behind. BELLA. 'Tain't much consolation if I get left for _good_! Say, will you ask Mr. Coleman to sort o' look after him? Ask him to please put him in the back row when there's fighting--and keep an eye on his health. I'm afraid it's dreadful _damp_ being a soldier; and do you know that man actually catches cold if he forgets his rubbers and it sprinkles? GEORGIANA. I don't think he ought to go if he's so delicate; Mr. Coleman will take an interest in your friend, I know, if I ask him. What's his name? BELLA. Mr. Gootch. GEORGIANA. _Mr. Gootch!_ Yes, I can remember that. But, you see, if he's a soldier he must do his duty, whatever it is. BELLA. There's no holding him back! He's jus' as likely as not to lose his position at Snipleys, Crabford & Snipleys, too, but he _will_ go! It's surprising to see a man with such a weak chest and delicate feet, so awful brave and persistent. LOUISE. [_Coming back._] I bore the children to death, so I left them. What are all these bundles, Bella? BELLA. Christmas presents. This is just the time of the year to buy, you know, you can get such bargains! and if there's one thing I think nicer'n anything else to get cheap, it's Christmas presents. GEORGIANA. You should do like Mrs. Carley, Bella, save half of the things you get one year to give away the next. [_She sits by the table and goes on with her work._