DAM. Make up your mind at once--Boss lives upon flattery, and Miss wants a husband--you can't be better paired! Infatuated man, go to your lady! [_BOSS crosses to MISS SNARE and kisses her hand--DAMPER selects two more papers._ DAM. _(Reading.)_ "Peter Pinkey could be happy for life with Miss Skylark"--miss ditto, with ditto gentleman. NIG. Come Pinkey, speak out--the dumb would find words at such a moment! PIN. Oh, bless you, I have been finding too many words--I said all that was necessary, but was rejected! MISS SKY. Because you had proposed to another. PIN. Upon my honor it was a mistake. In a bewildered moment I _did_ do so; but I thought it was to you! MISS SKY. _(Looking at MISS MACAW.)_ It is not a very hard matter to believe you! DAM. Silly boy, go to your choice. You're young--there's a fine long life of wretchedness in store for _you!_ PIN. _(Running to her.)_ What do you say? MISS SKY. _(Singing.)_ "No more by sorrow chased my heart." DAM. Silence, woman! _(Reading papers.)_ "Charles Chester, Jessy Meadows." Miss Meadows is of the same opinion. CHE. Will you take your poor artist? MISS MEA. I am sorry that you have deceived me--I would rather that you were the humble being you first professed you were---- CHE. You shall yet have your wish. To please you I will even consent to be poor. _(To MISS COY.)_ Aunt Caroline! NIG. Aunt Caroline! Are you her nephew? CHE. I am, sir. At the hazard of her own happiness, almost at the risk of her good name, she kept a secret that I required of her--I made a promise a short time since that I would replace the income she has been deprived of by her agent, and I _will_ do so; therefore, sir, _(To NIGGLE.)_ you do not marry a penniless woman, whilst I by impoverishing myself, gratify the object of my choice! DAM. Madman! go take your fate by the hand, and commence your sad career! [_CHESTER crosses to MISS MEADOWS--DAMPER reads the last papers._ ALL. The last couple--now for the last couple! DAM. "David Damper, Maria Macaw--Maria Macaw, David Damper." Eh, what d'ye think of that? Come to me, fright! _(To MISS MACAW.)_ MISS MAC. _(Crossing to him.)_ Object! I obey you. DAM. Now isn't it noble of us to form a marriage, for which none of you can guess the inducement? ALL. _(But MISS MACAW.)_ Noble! noble! DAM. You wonder what we can see in each other, don't you? Never mind--though we don't begin by thinking that we can't live asunder, we may not find out, as you will, that it is impossible to live together. We are united but for one object, to worry one another; and if we fail in that object, perhaps we may be the happiest couple amongst you. MISS MAC. Nothing _can_ annoy me but one question; and that is being asked my age! MISS MEA. Did he ever dare to put that question to you? MISS MAC. He did. ALL. Oh, shame!