[_Confidentially to Peggy._] Er--um--my dear Miss Griffin, did you receive a short but ample apology from me this afternoon--addressed, "To the young lady who was shaken"? PEGGY. Yes; and oh! I shall always prize it! RANKLING. No, no, don't! You haven't bothered your Uncle about it, have you, dear? PEGGY. No--not yet. RANKLING. I shouldn't, then, I shouldn't. He seems worried enough. Shall I take you and your sisters to see the pantomime? PEGGY. Yes--please. RANKLING. Then you'd better give me back that apology. PEGGY. Oh, no--you'd use it again. RANKLING. One--two--three. Mr. Mallory says you have four nieces with you, Mr. Queckett. QUECKETT. Ah, but Jack's been dining, you know. I beg your pardon, Jack. PEGGY. Oh, yes, there is one more. Mrs.--Mrs.--Parkinson is here with her husband. QUECKETT. H'm! my brother Tankerville's eldest girl. RANKLING. I've never heard of your brother Tankerville! QUECKETT. No--he's Deputy Inspector of Prisons in British Guiana. Quiet, retiring chap. PEGGY. I'll go and fetch them. [_She runs out._] QUECKETT. [_To Rankling._] To make a clean breast of it, the girls have been preparing a little festival to-night in honor of Mr. and Mrs.--Mr. and Mrs.--the name Peggy mentioned. My niece was married, very quietly, some weeks ago to a charming young fellow--a charming young fellow--and these foolish children insist on cutting a wedding-cake and all that sort of nonsense. I didn't want to disturb you with their chatter-- RANKLING. You forget, Queckett, you are speaking to a father. QUECKETT. No--I don't, indeed. [_Peggy re-enters, followed by Reginald and Dinah._] PEGGY. My cousin and Mr. Parkinson. RANKLING. How do you--[_Staring._] What an extraordinary likeness to my brother Ned! [_Taking her hand slowly, still looking at her._] And how do you do? DINAH. [_Palpitating._] Thank you, I am very well. RANKLING. Do you know, your voice is exceedingly like my sister Rachel's! REGINALD. [_Thrusting himself between Dinah and Rankling._] I am sorry to differ--I think my wife resembles no one but herself. RANKLING. [_Hotly _] I beg your pardon, sir. REGINALD. [_Hotly_] Pray, don't. RANKLING. [_To himself _] That's not a charming young fellow! PEGGY. [_Presenting Mallory to Dinah._] Mr. Mallory. MALLORY. [_Gallantly, to Dinah._] I am delighted to have the opportunity of congratulating my old friend's niece upon her recent marriage. [_Taking her hand._] I think myself especially fortunate in being present on such-- REGINALD. [_Thrusting himself between Dinah and Mallory, and giving Dinah his arm._] How do you do, sir? MALLORY. Mr. Mallory--Mr. Parkinson. [_ They bow abruptly, glaring at each other._] MALLORY.