Miss
Susan at the card table.

VALENTINE. But Miss Susan goes with me to the ball, ma'am.

(_This is scarcely less exciting to them than the overthrow of the
Corsican._)

VALENTINE. Nay, I hope there be no impropriety. Miss Livvy will
accompany her.

MISS WILLOUGHBY (_bewildered_). Miss Livvy?

VALENTINE. Their charming niece.

(_The ladies repeat the word in a daze._)

MISS FANNY. They had not apprised us that they have a visitor.

(_They think this reticence unfriendly, and are wondering whether they
ought not to retire hurt, when_ MISS SUSAN _enters in her bombazine,
wraps, and bonnet. She starts at sight of them, and has the bearing of
a guilty person._)

MISS WILLOUGHBY (_stiffly_). We have but now been advertised of your
intention for this evening, Susan.

MISS HENRIETTA. We deeply regret our intrusion.

MISS SUSAN (_wistfully_). Please not to be piqued, Mary. 'Twas
so--sudden.

MISS WILLOUGHBY. I cannot remember, Susan, that your estimable brother
had a daughter. I thought all the three were sons.

MISS SUSAN (_with deplorable readiness_). Three sons and a daughter.
Surely you remember little Livvy, Mary?

MISS WILLOUGHBY (_bluntly_). No, Susan, I do not.

MISS SUSAN. I--I must go. I hear Livvy calling.

MISS FANNY (_tartly_). I hear nothing but the band. We are not to see
your niece?

MISS SUSAN. Another time--to-morrow. Pray rest a little before you
depart, Mary. I--I--Phoebe Livvy--the headache----

(_But before she can go another lady enters gaily._)

VALENTINE. Ah, here is Miss Livvy.

(_The true culprit is more cunning than_ MISS SUSAN, _and before they
can see her she quickly pulls the strings of her bonnet, which is like_
MISS HENRIETTA'S, _and it obscures her face._)

MISS SUSAN. This--this is my niece, Livvy--Miss Willoughby, Miss
Henrietta, Miss Fanny Willoughby.

VALENTINE. Ladies, excuse my impatience, but--

MISS WILLOUGHBY. One moment, sir. May I ask, Miss Livvy, how many
brothers you have.

PHOEBE. Two.

MISS WILLOUGHBY. I thank you.

(_She looks strangely at_ MISS SUSAN, _and_ MISS PHOEBE _knows that she
has blundered._)

PHOEBE (_at a venture_). Excluding the unhappy Thomas.

MISS SUSAN (_clever for the only moment in her life_). We never
mention him.

(_They are swept away on the arms of the impatient_ CAPTAIN.)

MISS WILLOUGHBY, MISS HENRIETTA, AND MISS FANNY. What has Thomas done?

(_They have no suspicion as yet of w