My dear boy, your health is the chief thing. I should never forgive myself if you came to any harm while you were my secretary. I’ll write my letters myself. BLENKINSOP. Besides, I shall be here, and I’ll do all I can to help you. FREDDIE. I don’t believe I’m pale. MRS. DOT. You only have to look at yourself. [_She takes out a little pocket mirror and hands it to him._ BLENKINSOP. Let’s look at your tongue. [_He puts it out._] Tut, tut, tut. FREDDIE. Look here, there’s something behind this. BLENKINSOP. You’re too clever, my boy. FREDDIE. I see through your little game. Aunt Dot, you want to get rid of me. MRS. DOT. How can you be so absurd? FREDDIE. Now, I wonder what your reason is. MRS. DOT. Shall we tell him the truth? BLENKINSOP. Yes, perhaps you’d better. He’s a very bright boy. MRS. DOT. Well, the fact is, Freddie, a dreadful thing has happened. Poor Nellie Sellenger is desperately in love with you. FREDDIE. I don’t see why you should want me to go away on that account. BLENKINSOP. Good lord, man, don’t be so self-satisfied. Aren’t you surprised, aren’t you dumfounded that a pretty girl should fall in love with you? FREDDIE. I thought it meant something when she dropped that rose. BLENKINSOP. Bless my stars, the dolt takes it as a matter of course. FREDDIE. I’m awfully flattered and all that sort of thing. MRS. DOT. But not exactly surprised? FREDDIE. It’s not fair to ask a fellow a question like that. BLENKINSOP. At all events, you see now the necessity for depriving us for a time of your charming society. FREDDIE. Nothing will induce me to desert a post of danger. I’m going to face the music. BLENKINSOP. Don’t be such an ass. It’s not you we’re thinking of, it’s that unfortunate girl. FREDDIE. I don’t know why you think she’s unfortunate. MRS. DOT. But, my dear boy, she’s engaged to Gerald Hollington. Don’t you see how serious the whole thing is? The only chance is for you to go away. We must try and make her forget you. FREDDIE. I don’t want to do anybody a bad turn. I wouldn’t do anything to queer Gerald’s pitch for worlds. BLENKINSOP. You must combine with us in order to save her from herself. MRS. DOT. There’s no use in her eating her heart out for you, when she must inevitably marry Gerald. FREDDIE. Poor old Gerald, I told you he wasn’t the sort of chap a girl would be desperately in love with. BLENKINSOP. The acumen you have shown does credit to your years. FREDDIE. Still, you know, I don’t think it’s wise for me to go away. Don’t you think it would be rather marked? And they always say that absence makes the heart grow fonder. BLENKINSOP. It was a woman who invented that proverb. There’s no truth in it. MRS. DOT. What else can you suggest? The fact remains that Nellie must be cured of this--of this passion. FREDDIE.