and, let me welcome you zealously to
this abode.

CLEVELAND. A great many thanks, my dear Elsworth. I'm delighted to
meet so true-hearted a loyalist. We pushed our march to partake of
your hospitality. Ah, Miss Elsworth! How shall I express my delight in
finding that Time, who deals so inexorably with us, has been induced
to favour you. It gives me infinite pleasure, Miss Elsworth, to meet
you once again, for the recollection of the occasions we have met
previously are bright spots in my memory.

ROSE. Oh, sir, I thank you.

ELSWORTH. And how, sir, comes on the royal cause? Will it be long ere
these rebels are taught their duty to their King?

CLEVELAND. Have no apprehensions, my dear Elsworth. Another campaign
will scatter them to the mountains, and a live rebel be so great a
curiosity, that to cage one and exhibit him would make a showman's
fortune.

ROSE. [_Aside_.] If he knew there were a caged one here now!

ELSWORTH. But come, Major Cleveland, where are your companions? I must
see why they have not followed you.

CLEVELAND. They are delayed for a moment with the troop. By the way,
Miss Elsworth, I believe that there are a couple of gentlemen without,
who are old admirers of yours--Captain Arbald and Lieutenant Marvin.

ROSE. Old, Major! You flatter my taste.

CLEVELAND. Why, with beauty I thought the conquest of the morning
stale matter by night.

ROSE. Oh, sir, if staleness went to make their age, they would be
proverbed instead of Methuselah.

CLEVELAND. They took very much to you.

ROSE. So did the measles, sir.

CLEVELAND. They are desperately enamoured of you--would do any
difficult thing--even die for you.

ROSE. So they once told me, but I courtesied, and replied that I
should prefer a live rebel to even two dead loyalists.

CLEVELAND. And then--

ROSE. They vowed to live for me. I begged of them to put themselves to
no such inconvenience; that I wouldn't trouble them to do anything
of the kind; that if they didn't think it worth while to live for
themselves, I shouldn't intrude upon any suicidal intention they might
entertain.

CLEVELAND. And so they lived--

ROSE. But I had no hand in it; I am innocent; my skirts are clear of
the melancholy fact.

CLEVELAND. They are noble gentlemen, Miss Elsworth. You must bear with
me if I defend them. They are good soldiers, and fine-looking fellows.

ROSE. For which I thank their tailors.

CLEVELAND. Gay, dashing; brave of heart, and witty