MISS SUSAN. William Smith says it is fifteen; and he is such a big boy, do you think I ought to contradict him? May I say there are differences of opinion about it? No one can be really sure, Phoebe. PHOEBE. It is eleven. I once worked it out with real herrings. (_Stoutly._) Susan, we must never let the big boys know that we are afraid of them. To awe them, stamp with the foot, speak in a ferocious voice, and look them unflinchingly in the face. (_Then she pales._) Oh, Susan, Isabella's father insists on her acquiring algebra. MISS SUSAN. What is algebra exactly; is it those three cornered things? PHOEBE. It is _x_ minus _y_ equals _z_ plus _y_ and things like that. And all the time you are saying they are equal, you feel in your heart, why should they be. (_The music of the band swells here, and both ladies put their hands to their ears._) It is the band for to-night's ball. We must not grudge their rejoicings, Susan. It is not every year that there is a Waterloo to celebrate. MISS SUSAN. I was not thinking of that. I was thinking that he is to be at the ball to-night; and we have not seen him for ten years. PHOEBE (_calmly_). Yes, ten years. We shall be glad to welcome our old friend back, Susan. I am going in to your room now to take the Latin class. (_A soldier with a girl passes--a yokel follows angrily._) MISS SUSAN. Oh, that weary Latin, I wish I had the whipping of the man who invented it. (_She returns to her room, and the sound of the music dies away_. MISS PHOEBE, _who is not a very accomplished classical scholar, is taking a final peep at the declensions when_ MISS SUSAN _reappears excitedly._) PHOEBE. What is it? MISS SUSAN (_tragically_). William Smith! Phoebe, I tried to look ferocious, indeed I did, but he saw I was afraid, and before the whole school he put out his tongue at me. PHOEBE. Susan! (_She is lion-hearted; she remembers_ ARTHUR'S _instructions, and practises with the cane._) MISS SUSAN (_frightened_). Phoebe, he is much too big. Let it pass. PHOEBE. If I let it pass I am a stumbling-block in the way of true education. MISS SUSAN. Sister. PHOEBE (_grandly_). Susan, stand aside. (_Giving the cane_ ARTHUR'S _most telling flick, she marches into the other room. Then, while_ MISS SUSAN _is listening nervously_, CAPTAIN VALENTINE BROWN _is ushered in by_ PATTY. _He is bronzed and soldierly. He wears the whiskers of the period, and is in uniform. He has lost his left hand, but this is not at first noticeable._) PATTY. Miss Susan, 'tis Captain Brown! MISS SUSAN. Captain Brown! VALENTINE (_greeting her warmly_). Reports himself at home again. MISS SUSAN (_gratified_). You call this home?