DE W. He is here--is he--the dear boy. I must shake him by the hand. (_rushes forward, R. C. and grasps THWAITES by the hand_) Eh! ha! ha! You're not Whitewash! Ridiculous! I'm always making myself ridiculous; I've too much heart. You feel what I mean, Whitewash. (_shakes his hand violently_) You feel what I mean. WHITE. (L. C.) Most acutely! (_wringing his hand_) DE W. I'm so glad you are here before the others. Leave the room, Thwaites. (_THWAITES lingers, moving at back to C._) I can now disburden my heart. As I said, I'm all heart. (_THWAITES advances, C._) Leave the room, Thwaites! (_THWAITES goes up, and moves chair from R. to C._) This moment is the most important--Zounds! Thwaites, will you leave the room? THWAITES. (_aside, going up, C._) That's the man of money. Give me the man of mind! _Exit, C., off, L._ DE W. (_coming to C._) Now look, I hesitate no longer; I shilly-shally no longer; I follow the dictates of my heart, and my heart tells me to--Come here, Whitewash--come here, Aggy. (_joins their hands_) Whitewash, consider yourself as my son-in-law. AGATHA. Really, this is very sudden, 'pa. DE W. Of course it is; I'm always sudden, I'm a creature of impulse. But do you dislike the arrangement? AGATHA. I did not say that, 'pa. DE W. Didn't say that, 'pa! Then why don't you speak out? Wear your mind in your face, as I do, or as my young friend here, with whom I want to speak a few words in private. So, go and see how they are getting on with the coffee. WHITE. (R.) And don't forget, that you are engaged to me for the first set, and the Polka, and the Lancers. DE W. Of course, she won't forget. Run along child. _Exit, AGATHA, C., off, L._ Now, I can give vent to my feelings; Whitewash, you've done it. I was long making up my mind, but now, you've done it. You are one of the men I like. (_shakes his hand violently--they sit_) WHITE. My dear sir, I'm most happy. (_wringing his hand_) DE W. Of course you are. Look you, it's only now that I like you; this very morning I weighed your merits with those of Tom Tango of the Stock Exchange, who you know has a sneaking kindness for my girl, and the balance was considerably in Tom's favour. He's a better looking fellow than you, and his conversation is more agreeable. Then, what's a lawyer? said I, a creature all brains and no heart? no heart, sir! But now, I'm changed, my views are more enlarged--more expansive--I have been---- WHITE. Dining out? DE W. No, I have been in the Central Criminal Court, during the cause, "The Queen _v._ Pawkins." WHITE. Ah, I see! and you heard my speech for the defence. It was not bad, was it? DE W. It was noble--it was glorious. While I looked upon that poor man in the dock, and I heard you enunciate his virtues and expatiate on the largeness of his small family, he assumed in my eyes the sanctity of a martyr. WHITE. You don't say so? DE W. Perhaps you noticed that among the persons in the court one wept aloud--very loud?