Do you think Miss Dyott, or Mrs. Queckett, or whatever she is, will send you home? PEGGY. She can't--she's got me for ever. She took me, years ago, for a bad debt. MALLORY. How can she punish you then? PEGGY. I think she will withdraw her confidence from me. MALLORY. You won't despair, will you? PEGGY. I'll try not to. MALLORY. What a jolly little sailor's wife you'd make--brewing grog like this. PEGGY. I hope I should do my duty in any station of life to which I might be called. MALLORY. I'm a sailor, you know. PEGGY. No--are you? MALLORY. [_ Taking her hand and putting it to his lips._] You know I am. PEGGY. [_Suddenly._] It's going to boil over! [_They jump up quickly, Mallory retreats._] Oh, no, it isn't. [_Gwendoline and Ermyntrude enter, leading Reginald, with Saunders following. Reginald is in a deplorable condition, covered with snow and icicles, his face is white, and his nose red._] Oh, poor Mr. Paulover! SAUNDERS. He's frost-bitten! PEGGY. Thaw him by degrees. [_Peggy mixes the grog. Gwendoline and Ermyntrude lead Reginald to a chair before the fire, he uttering some violent but incoherent exclamations._] ERMYNTRUDE. He's annoyed with Admiral Rankling. [_The girls chafe his hands while he still mutters, with his eyes rolling._] PEGGY. It's a good job his language is frozen. [_Putting the glass of grog to his lips._] REGINALD. [_Reviving._] Thank you. Take my hat off, please--I bought it from a cabman. [_Gwendoline removes his hat, which is very shabby._] Good morning! Where's my wife Dinah? PEGGY. She's quite safe. REGINALD. I must see her--speak to her! PEGGY. You can't--she's locked up. REGINALD. Then I must push a long letter under her door. She must, she shall, know that I am going to walk up and down outside this house all my life. [_Faintly._] Bring writing materials! MALLORY. I'll hunt for the pen and ink. SAUNDERS. So will I. REGINALD. [_To Peggy._] No--no--you do it. These men are bachelors--they can't feel for me! MALLORY. Here's a writing-table. [_Peggy runs to Mallory and opens the lid of the writing-table. _] PEGGY. Note paper and envelopes--where's the--[_opening one of the small drawers--she starts back with a cry._] Oh! [_They all turn and look at her._] ALL. What's the matter? PEGGY. [_Taking from the drawer a large bunch of keys, each with a small label, which she examines breathlessly._] Duplicate keys of all the rooms in the house! What gross carelessness--to leave keys in an open drawer! Girls, why should not we impress this fact upon Admiral Rankling by releasing Dinah immediately? GWENDOLINE AND ERMYNTRUDE. Oh, yes, yes. REGINALD. [_Seizing Peggy's hand._] Oh, Miss Hesslerigge, my father-in-law is entertaining an angel unawares. MALLORY. Oh, stop, stop, stop--I don't think we're quite justified-- REGINALD. [_Scornfully._] Hah, I told you he was merely a bachelor! [_Pointing to Saunders._] So is his companion. Give me the keys? PEGGY.