(PATTY _shows in two visitors,_ MISS CHARLOTTE PARRATT _and_ ENSIGN BLADES. CHARLOTTE _is a pretty minx who we are glad to say does not reside in Quality Street, and_ BLADES _is a callow youth, inviting admiration._) CHARLOTTE (_as they salute_). But I did not know you had company, Miss Susan. MISS SUSAN. 'Tis Captain Brown--Miss Charlotte Parratt. CHARLOTTE (_gushing_). The heroic Brown? VALENTINE. Alas, no, ma'am, the other one. CHARLOTTE. Miss Susan, do you see who accompanies me? MISS SUSAN. I cannot quite recall---- BLADES. A few years ago, ma'am, there sat in this room a scrubby, inky little boy--I was that boy. MISS SUSAN. Can it be our old pupil--Ensign Blades? (_She thinks him very fine, and he bows, well pleased._) BLADES. Once a little boy and now your most obedient, ma'am. MISS SUSAN. You have come to recall old memories? BLADES. Not precisely; I--Charlotte, explain. CHARLOTTE. Ensign Blades wishes me to say that it must seem highly romantic to you to have had a pupil who has fought at Waterloo. MISS SUSAN. Not exactly romantic. I trust, sir, that when you speak of having been our pupil you are also so obliging as to mention that it was during our first year. Otherwise it makes us seem so elderly. (_He bows again, in what he believes to be a quizzical manner._) CHARLOTTE. Ensign Blades would be pleased to hear, Miss Susan, what you think of him as a whole. MISS SUSAN. Indeed, sir, I think you are monstrous fine. (_Innocently._) It quite awes me to remember that we used to whip him. VALENTINE (_delighted_). Whipped him, Miss Susan! (_In solemn burlesque of_ CHARLOTTE.) Ensign Blades wishes to indicate that it was more than Buonaparte could do. We shall meet again, bright boy. (_He makes his adieux and goes._) BLADES. Do you think he was quizzing me? MISS SUSAN (_simply_). I cannot think so. BLADES. He said 'bright boy,' ma'am. MISS SUSAN. I am sure, sir, he did not mean it. (PHOEBE _returns._) PHOEBE. Charlotte, I am happy to see you. You look delicious, my dear--so young and fresh. CHARLOTTE. La! Do you think so, Miss Phoebe? BLADES. Miss Phoebe, your obedient. PHOEBE. It is Ensign Blades! But how kind of you, sir, to revisit the old school. Please to sit down. CHARLOTTE. Ensign Blades has a favour to ask of you, Miss Phoebe. BLADES. I learn, ma'am, that Captain Brown has obtained a card for you for the ball, and I am here to solicit for the honour of standing up with you. (_For the moment_ PHOEBE _is flattered. Here, she believes, is some one who does not think her too old for the dance. Then she perceives a meaning smile pass between_ CHARLOTTE _and the_ ENSIGN.) PHOEBE (_paling_). Is it that you desire to make sport of me? BLADES (_honestly distressed_). Oh no, ma'am, I vow--but I--I am such a quiz, ma'am. MISS SUSAN. Sister! PHOEBE. I am sorry, sir, to have to deprive you of some entertainment, but I am not going to the ball.