nces._)

MISS HENRIETTA. Miss Phoebe, we have done you a cruel wrong.

MISS FANNY. Phoebe, we apologise.

MISS HENRIETTA. To think how excitedly we have been following her
about in the shrubbery.

MISS FANNY. She is wearing your cloak.

MISS HENRIETTA. Ensign Blades told us she was gone to the shrubbery.

MISS FANNY. And we were convinced there was no such person.

MISS HENRIETTA. So of course we thought it must be you.

MISS FANNY (_who has looked out_). I can discern her in the shrubbery
still. She is decidedly taller than Phoebe.

MISS HENRIETTA. I thought she looked taller. I meant to say so.
Phoebe, 'twas the cloak deceived us. We could not see her face.

PHOEBE (_beginning to understand_). Cloak? You mean, Henrietta--you
mean, Fanny--

MISS FANNY. 'Twas wicked of us, my dear, but we--we thought that you
and Miss Livvy were the same person. (_They have evidently been
stalking_ CHARLOTTE _in_ MISS PHOEBE'S _cloak_. MISS SUSAN _shudders,
but_ MISS PHOEBE _utters a cry of reproach, and it is some time before
they can persuade her to forgive them. It is of course also some time
before we can forgive_ MISS PHOEBE.) Phoebe, you look so pretty. Are
they paying you no attentions, my dear?

(PHOEBE _is unable to resist these delightful openings. The imploring
looks_ MISS SUSAN _gives her but add to her enjoyment. It is as if the
sense of fun she had caged a moment ago were broke loose again._)

PHOEBE. Alas, they think of none but Livvy. They come to me merely to
say that they adore her.

MISS HENRIETTA. Surely not Captain Brown?

PHOEBE. He is infatuate about her.

MISS FANNY. Poor Phoebe!

(_They make much of her, and she purrs naughtily to their stroking,
with lightning peeps at_ MISS SUSAN. _Affronted Providence seeks to
pay her out by sending_ ENSIGN BLADES _into the tent. Then the close
observer may see_ MISS PHOEBE'S _heart sink like a bucket in a well_.
MISS SUSAN _steals from the tent._)

MISS HENRIETTA. Mr. Blades, I have been saying that if I were a
gentleman I would pay my addresses to Miss Phoebe much rather than to
her niece.

BLADES. Ma'am, excuse me.

MISS HENRIETTA (_indignant that_ MISS PHOEBE _should be slighted so
publicly_). Sir, you are a most ungallant and deficient young man.

BLADES. Really, ma'am, I assure you----

MISS HENRIETTA. Not another word, sir.

PHOEBE (_in her most old-maidish manner_). Miss Fanny, Miss Henrietta,
it is time