_Spread._ Yes, very sudden--terribly sudden. I only heard of my appointment two days ago, in London, and I’m to join my ship to-night. It’s very sudden indeed--and--and I’ve come to say good-bye. _Jen._ Good-bye. (_Offering her hand._) _Spread._ Oh, but not like that, Jenny! Are you in a hurry? _Jen._ Oh dear no, I thought you were; won’t you sit down? (_They sit._) And so your sisters are quite well? _Spread._ Not very; they are rather depressed at my going so soon. It may seem strange to you, but they will miss me. _Jen._ I’m sure they will. I should be terribly distressed at your going--if I were your sister. And you’re going for so long! _Spread._ I’m not likely to return for a great many years. _Jen._ (_with a little suppressed emotion_). I’m so sorry we shall not see you again. Papa will be very sorry. _Spread._ More sorry than you will be? _Jen._ Well, no, I shall be very sorry, too--very, _very_ sorry--there! _Spread._ How very kind of you to say so. _Jen._ We have known each other so long--so many years, and we’ve always been good friends, and it’s always sad to say good-bye for the last time (_he is delighted_) to anybody! (_he relapses_). It’s so very sad when one knows for certain that it _must_ be the last time. _Spread._ I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear you say it’s so sad. But (_hopefully_) my prospects are not altogether hopeless, there’s one chance for me yet. I’m happy to say I’m extremely delicate, and there’s no knowing, the climate may not agree with me, and I may be invalided home! (_very cheerfully_). _Jen._ Oh! but that would be very dreadful. _Spread._ Oh, yes, of course it would be dreadful in one sense; but it--it would have its advantages. (_Looking uneasily at WILCOX, who is hard at work._) Wilcox is hard at work, I see. _Jen._ Oh, yes, Wilcox is hard at work. He is very industrious. _Spread._ Confoundedly industrious! He is working in the sun without his hat. (_Significantly._) _Jen._ Poor fellow. _Spread._ Isn’t it injudicious, at his age? _Jen._ Oh, I don’t think it will hurt him. _Spread._ I really think it will. (_He motions to her to send him away._) _Jen._ Do you? Wilcox, Mr. Spreadbrow is terribly distressed because you are working in the sun. _Wil._ That’s mortal good of him. (_Aside, winking._) They want me to go. All right; he can’t do much harm now. (_Aloud._) Well, sir, the sun is hot, and I’ll go and look after the cucumbers away yonder, right at the other end of the garden. (_WILCOX going--SPREADBROW is delighted._) _Jen._ No, no, no!--don’t go away! Stop here, only put on your hat. That’s what Mr. Spreadbrow meant. (_WILCOX puts on his hat._) There, _now_ are you happy? _Spread._ I suppose it will soon be his dinner-time? _Jen._ Oh, he _has_ dined. You _have_ dined, haven’t you, Wilcox? _Wil._ Oh, yes, miss, _I’ve_ dined, thank ye kindly. _Jen._ Yes; he has dined! Oh! I quite forgot! _Spread._ What?