DAM. _(Aside.)_ Poor Niggle's in a hopeful way; one woman wants to teach him to sing "The Bay of Biscay," and another is continually calling on him with pincushions. I must keep my eye upon him. NIG. _(Aside.)_ Another ten minutes gone. What shall I do? _(Looks at his watch.)_ MISS SKY. Oh, what do you think, while I was in the music-shop this morning, I heard such scandal; it seems to be all over the town. I never was so shocked in all my life--and of a lady, too, that we always considered so very correct in her conduct. MISS SNA. Do you allude to Miss Coy? MISS SKY. I do. DAM. What, have _you_ heard? so have I. NIG. _(Looking anxiously from one to another.)_ What? what? MISS SKY. I cant repeat it, especially as she's an acquaintance; were it a stranger, I should not hesitate; but to retail anything against one's _friends_, is so ungenerous. DAM. Come here. Was it that she----_(Whispers.)_ MISS SKY. Yes. Could you have believed it? DAM. Oh, woman, woman, just like you. MISS SNA. I think I can guess the nature of the report--quite a full-grown young man, I hear. DAM. Quite full-grown--five-and-twenty. MISS SNA. Shocking! shocking! MISS SKY. Dreadful! DAM. Horrible! NIG. What is it? Am I to be the only person in ignorance of anything derogatory to the reputation of Miss Coy? MISS SKY. The fact is, Mr. Niggle, we don't wish to wound your feelings. Oh, you sly man, do you think your attentions to Miss Coy, have passed unnoticed. Gallanting her home from parties, running of errands for her, sitting on a post opposite to her window of an evening, when the weather has been mild enough, taking walks, and taking tea, and playing at double dummy by moonlight. Oh, shocking! shocking! _(Sings.)_ "Can love be controlled by advice? Will Cupid his mother obey." NIG. Pray don't be musical at such a moment, miss, pray, don't. _One_ shakes her head and cries "shocking," another ejaculates "dreadful," while Damper sums up all by a growl of "horrible," and giving a violent hint of Miss Coy and some full grown young man. Now, what is it? Not that I particularly wish to know; because curiosity is a foible that I detest. Not that it at all concerns me, the least in the world--the least in the world. What is it? MISS SKY. Don't tell him. DAM. You're not going to make a fool of yourself in that quarter, are you? Think how many times I have saved you from perdition! Tell me if you are: I am your friend you know, and I'll never forsake you. MISS SKY. Nay, Mr. Damper, if his fancy _is_ fixed there, why should he not gratify it? Miss Coy is still a handsome woman, past the summer of her existence, certainly; but what I call a fine autumnal maiden. NIG. So she is; and if I _do_ possess a preference for any female, I certainly admire one at that season of life: when her charms are in the richest state of perfection. None of your just budding April misses for me; who, after all, may turn out to be very indifferent blossoms.