MRS. BRIGGS (_turning to him mournfully_) Oh, yes, you are! INGOLDSBY (_shaking his head_) I’m not. I still--I still--I still--I still-- (_The settee again moves a little nearer_.) MRS. BRIGGS No, no. INGOLDSBY I do. I still--I still-- MRS. BRIGGS (_in a faint and tearful protest_) No, you don’t, Henry. You only think you do. INGOLDSBY No, I really do. I--I--I care for you yet, Fannie. MRS. BRIGGS (_recovering herself enough to smile faintly as she shakes her head_) Oh, my, no! INGOLDSBY Fannie, let’s--let’s save these years that we still have before us. Let’s try to make up for that old mistake. MRS. BRIGGS (_becoming a little brisker_) Why, how--how--why, we--why, I couldn’t think of such a thing! INGOLDSBY (_solemnly_) Fannie, I ask you to marry me. (_She stares at him; the settee moves an inch nearer._) MRS. BRIGGS What? INGOLDSBY I ask you to marry me. MRS. BRIGGS Why, good gracious! I wouldn’t have my children know that anybody had said such a thing to me for all the kingdoms on earth! INGOLDSBY (_earnestly_) They needn’t know it till afterwards. MRS. BRIGGS (_breathlessly_) Afterwards? After--after-- INGOLDSBY You’re not going to wreck us both _again_, are you, Fannie? MRS. BRIGGS (_as in amazement_) Why, if I’d dreamed you were going to say anything like _this_ to me when you asked me to meet you here this afternoon-- INGOLDSBY (_solemnly_) Fannie, I want you to give me your answer, and to do it now. What do you say? MRS. BRIGGS (_feebly, with her hand to her breast_) Oh, my! INGOLDSBY Yes; you must. MRS. BRIGGS But I haven’t had time to _think_! Why, I wouldn’t have anybody know about this for-- INGOLDSBY I want my answer, Fannie--Fannie _dear_! MRS. BRIGGS (_blankly_) _Oh_, dear! INGOLDSBY Fannie, _dearest_! (_He takes her hand._) MRS. BRIGGS Oh, I wouldn’t have anybody know this-- INGOLDSBY Dearest, dearest Fannie! MRS. BRIGGS Why, I wouldn’t have anybody know that we-- (_They are interrupted by a voice from a mysterious and invisible source. It is a male and adult voice, loudly and emphatically affecting to clear the throat of its origin in the manner of a person wishing to attract the attention of some other person._) THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE A-hem! A-a-a-_hem_! MRS. BRIGGS (_leaping in her chair_) Good heavens! INGOLDSBY (_jumping up_) What was that? MRS. BRIGGS (_rising_) Why, it was a man’s voice. INGOLDSBY It was right here in the room with us. MRS. BRIGGS (_sinking into her chair_) Oh, murder! INGOLDSBY (_staring about the room, notices the Philippine chair with its back turned to the front_) There’s somebody sitting in that chair! (_He starts toward it angrily, but is checked by a suppressed scream from Mrs. Briggs._) MRS. BRIGGS _Don’t!_ I’d _much_ rather never know who it is. (_Rising._) Let’s get away! (_She totters._)