E Now, Wilfred, be just. Truly I did deceive thee
before-- but it was to save a precious life-- and to
save it, not for me, but for another. They are to be
wed this very day. Is not this enough for thee? Come--
I am thy Phoebe-- thy very own-- and we will be wed in
a year-- or two-- or three, at the most. Is not that
enough for thee?

[Enter SERGEANT MERYLL, excitedly, followed by DAME
CARRUTHERS, who listens, unobserved.

MERYLL Phoebe, hast thou heard the brave news?

PHOEBE [still in WILFRED's arms] Aye, father.

MERYLL I'm nigh mad with joy! [Seeing WILFRED] Why, what's
all this?

PHOEBE Oh, father, he discovered our secret thorough my
folly, and the price of his silence is--

WILFRED Phoebe's heart.

PHOEBE Oh, dear, no-- Phoebe's hand.

WILFRED It's the same thing!

PHOEBE Is it?

[Exeunt WILFRED and PHOEBE.

MERYLL [looking after them] "Tis pity, but the Colonel had to
be saved at any cost, and as thy folly revealed our
secret, thy folly must e'en suffer for it!

[DAME CARRUTHERS comes down] Dame Carruthers!

DAME So this is a plot to shield this arch-fiend, and I
have detected it. A word from me, and three heads
besides his would roll from their shoulders!

MERYLL Nay, Colonel Fairfax is reprieved.
[Aside] Yet, if my complicity in his escape were
known! Plague on the old meddler! There's nothing for
it--
[aloud]-- Hush, pretty one! Such bloodthirsty words ill
become those cherry lips!
[Aside] Ugh!

DAME [bashfully] Sergeant Meryll!

MERYLL Why, look ye, chuck-- for many a month I've-- I've
thought to myself-- "There's snug love saving up in
that middle-aged bosom for some one, and why not for
thee-- that's me-- so take heart and tell her-- that's
thee-- that thou-- that's me-- lovest her-- thee-- and--
and-- well,I'm a miserable old man, and I've done it--
and that's me!" But not a word about Fairfax! The
price of thy silence is--

DAME Meryll's heart?

MERYLL No, Meryll's hand.

DAME It's the same thing!

MERYLL Is it?

No. 21. Rapture, rap