SCENE III.--_An apartment at MISS SNARE'S--A glass door at the back--A screen on the L.--Two chairs._ _Enter PINKEY and BOSS, D.F._ BOSS. Now, my man, you _must_ make up your mind, you can't be in finer order for popping the question; you have just finished your three pints of claret, your lady has this moment called with Damper and the mysterious gentleman that tea'd here yesterday, and you can't have a better opportunity. PIN. _(A little elevated.)_ I'm sure I can't, I feel quite brimful of words, overflowing with good three, four, and five-syllable, words. Lord, I think I could now stand on my legs and talk for an hour or two without stopping for breath. I only want the subject matter. BOSS. You can't have a more inspiring theme than your love for your lady. PIN. You and Miss Snare talk a great deal together; I've heard you when you didn't know it. What do you talk about? Tell me, do--some people always seem to have to say so much to one another, that I can't, for the life of me, make out what they can have converse upon. BOSS. You would gain little by knowing what passes between _us_. PIN. Why? BOSS. We merely admire each other's good qualities. PIN. As much as to say, I've none for anybody to admire--I understand you--but I have though. BOSS. Oh, no doubt. You may be hiding your candle under a bushel. PIN. That's it--I _have_ a light--I feel I have a light, I'm only afraid, if I attempt to show it, it will go out. [_MISS SKYLARK is heard singing._ BOSS. She's coming, I'll leave you together. PIN. Oh, don't, I am not quite ready; that is, I don't feel quite so desperate as I did just now. BOSS. Come, come, pop at once; and then, like a conquering hero, take her on your arm to this party that we are all invited to. We have arranged the opportunity for you, step behind this screen. PIN. Why? BOSS. It's necessary. PIN. Do all people step behind screens when they propose to marry? BOSS. Too many, I'm afraid. PIN. Ah! but matrimony soon kicks the screen down, don't it? I wish we could be married without this awful ceremony of proposing. Why can't people make telegraphic signs? what a deal of trouble it would save. [_MISS SNARE, heard without._ MISS SNA. Step this way, my dear. [_BOSS puts PINKEY behind the screen._ _MISS SKYLARK enters following MISS SNARE, D.F._ MISS SKY. For what? MISS SNA. Ah! Mr. Narcissus, I was looking for you. _(She beckons to BOSS.)_ Take a seat for one moment, I beg. [_MISS SKYLARK sits; BOSS and MISS SNARE run off D.F.; BOSS locks the door, holds up the key, and disappears._ MISS SKY. What is the meaning of this? The door locked upon me. Miss Snare! _(Calling at the door.)_ Let me out, I'm so nervous when I'm in a room by myself, pray, let me out. _(Coming forward.)_ Very strange conduct, to ask me to step into this room, and then turn the key upon me. What can it mean? [_PINKEY sighs, very audibly, behind the screen._