(_He has gone, with the bundle on his arm, but_ MISS SUSAN _does not wake up. Even the banging of the outer door is unable to rouse her. It is heard, however, by_ MISS PHOEBE, _who steals back into the room, her cap upon her head to give her courage._) PHOEBE. He is gone! (MISS SUSAN'S _rapt face alarms her._) Oh, Susan, was he as dreadful as that? MISS SUSAN (_in tones unnatural to her_). Phoebe, he knows all. PHOEBE. Yes, of course he knows all now. Sister, did his face change? Oh, Susan, what did he say? MISS SUSAN. He said 'Good-bye, Miss Susan.' That was almost all he said. PHOEBE. Did his eyes flash fire? MISS SUSAN. Phoebe, it was what he did. He--he took Livvy with him. PHOEBE. Susan, dear, don't say that. You are not distraught, are you? MISS SUSAN (_clinging to facts_). He did; he wrapped her up in a shawl. PHOEBE. Susan! You are Susan Throssel, my love. You remember me, don't you? Phoebe, your sister. I was Livvy also, you know, Livvy. MISS SUSAN. He took Livvy with him. PHOEBE (_in woe_). Oh, oh! sister, who am I? MISS SUSAN. You are Phoebe. PHOEBE. And who was Livvy? MISS SUSAN. You were. PHOEBE. Thank heaven. MISS SUSAN. But he took her away in the carriage. PHOEBE. Oh, dear! (_She has quite forgotten her own troubles now._) Susan, you will soon be well again. Dear, let us occupy our minds. Shall we draw up the advertisement for the reopening of the school? MISS SUSAN. I do so hate the school. PHOEBE. Come, dear, come, sit down. Write, Susan. (_Dictating._) 'The Misses Throssel have the pleasure to announce----' MISS SUSAN. Pleasure! Oh, Phoebe. PHOEBE. 'That they will resume school on the 5th of next month. Music, embroidery, the backboard, and all the elegancies of the mind. Latin--shall we say algebra?' MISS SUSAN. I refuse to write algebra. PHOEBE. --for beginners. MISS SUSAN. I refuse. There is only one thing I can write; it writes itself in my head all day. 'Miss Susan Throssel presents her compliments to the Misses Willoughby and Miss Henrietta Turnbull, and requests the honour of their presence at the nuptials of her sister Phoebe and Captain Valentine Brown.' PHOEBE. Susan! MISS SUSAN. Phoebe! (_A door is heard banging._) He has returned! PHOEBE. Oh cruel, cruel. Susan, I am so alarmed. MISS SUSAN. I will face him. PHOEBE. Nay, if it must be, I will. (_But when he enters he is not very terrible._) VALENTINE. Miss Phoebe, it is not raining, but your face is wet. I wish always to kiss you when your face is wet. PHOEBE. Susan! VALENTINE. Miss Livvy will never trouble you any more, Miss Susan. I have sent her home. MISS SUSAN. Oh, sir, how can you invent such a story for us. VALENTINE. I did not. I invented it for the Misses Willoughby and Miss Henrietta, who from their windows watched me put her into my carriage. Patty accompanies her, and in a few hours Patty will return alone. MISS SUSAN. Phoebe, he has got rid of Livvy!