MISS P.--She has loved you since she was a little child. And you loved her once, and do now, John. MARY.--Oh, Miss! you hare a hangel,--I hallways said you were a hangel. MISS P.--You are better than I am, my dear much, much better than I am, John. The curse of my poverty has been that I have had to flatter and to dissemble, and hide the faults of those I wanted to help, and to smile when I was hurt, and laugh when I was sad, and to coax, and to tack, and to bide my time,--not with Mr. Milliken: he is all honor, and kindness, and simplicity. Who did HE ever injure, or what unkind word did HE ever say? But do you think, with the jealousy of those poor ladies over his house, I could have stayed here without being a hypocrite to both of them? Go, John. My good, dear friend, John Howell, marry Mary. You'll be happier with her than with me. There! There! [They embrace.] MARY.--O--o--o! I think I'll go and hiron hout Miss Harabella's frocks now. [Exit MARY.] Enter MILLIKEN with CLARENCE--who is explaining things to him. CLARENCE.--Here they are, I give you my word of honor. Ask 'em, damn em. MILLIKEN.--What is this I hear? You, John Howell, have dared to strike a gentleman under my roof! Your master's brother-in-law? JOHN.--Yes, by Jove! and I'd do it again. MILLIKEN.--Are you drunk or mad, Howell? JOHN.--I'm as sober and as sensible as ever I was in my life, sir--I not only struck the master, but I struck the man, who's twice as big, only not quite as big a coward, I think. MILLIKEN.--Hold your scurrilous tongues sir! My good nature ruins everybody about me. Make up your accounts. Pack your trunks--and never let me see your face again. JOHN.--Very good, sir. MILLIKEN.--I suppose, Miss Prior, you will also be disposed to--to follow Mr. Howell? MISS P.--To quit you, now you know what has passed? I never supposed it could be otherwise--I deceived you, Mr. Milliken--as I kept a secret from you, and must pay the penalty. It is a relief to me, the sword has been hanging over me. I wish I had told your poor wife, as I was often minded to do. MILLIKEN.--Oh, you were minded to do it in Italy, were you? MISS P.--Captain Touchit knew it, sir, all along: and that my motives and, thank God, my life were honorable. MILLIKEN.--Oh, Touchit knew it, did he? and thought it honorable--honorable. Ha! ha! to marry a footman--and keep a public-house? I--I beg your pardon, John Howell--I mean nothing against you, you know. You're an honorable man enough, except that you have been damned insolent to my brother-in-law. JOHN.--Oh, heaven! [JOHN strikes his forehead, and walks away.] MISS P.--You mistake me, sir. What I wished to speak of was the fact which this gentleman has no doubt communicated to you--that I danced on the stage for three months. MILLIKEN.--Oh, yes. Oh, damme, yes. I forgot. I wasn't thinking of that. KICKLEBURY.--You see she owns it.