le--(offering apple).
MAR. (Examines it and rejects it.) No! (Mysteriously.)
Tell me, are you mad?
ROSE. I? No! That is, I think not.
MAR. That's well! Then you don't love Sir Despard
Murgatroyd? All mad girls love him. I love him. I'm poor Mad
Margaret--Crazy Meg--Poor Peg! He! he! he! he! (chuckling).
ROSE. Thou lovest the bad Baronet of Ruddigore? Oh,
horrible--too horrible!
MAR. You pity me? Then be my mother! The squirrel had a
mother, but she drank and the squirrel fled! Hush! They sing a
brave song in our parts--it runs somewhat thus: (Sings.)

"The cat and the dog and the little puppee
Sat down in a--down in a--in a----

I forget what they sat down in, but so the song goes!
Listen--I've come to pinch her!
ROSE. Mercy, whom?
MAR. You mean "who".
ROSE. Nay! it is the accusative after the verb.
MAR. True. (Whispers melodramatically.) I have come to
pinch Rose Maybud!
ROSE. (Aside, alarmed.) Rose Maybud!
MAR. Aye! I love him--he loved me once. But that's all
gone, fisht! He gave me an Italian glance--thus (business)--and
made me his. He will give her an Italian glance, and make her
his. But it shall not be, for I'll stamp on her--stamp on her-
-stamp on her! Did you ever kill anybody? No? Why not?
Listen--I killed a fly this morning! It buzzed, and I wouldn't
have it. So it died--pop! So shall she!
ROSE. But, behold, I am Rose Maybud, and I would fain not
die "pop."
MAR. You are Rose Maybud?
ROSE. Yes, sweet Rose Maybud!
MAR. Strange! They told me she was beautiful! And he
loves you! No, no! If I thought that, I would treat you as the
auctioneer and land-agent treated the lady-bird--I would rend you
asunder!
ROSE. Nay, be pacified, for behold I am pledged to another,
and Lo, we are to be wedded this very day!
MAR. Swear me that! Come to a Commissioner and let me have
it on affidavit! I once made an affidavit--but it died--it died-
-it died! But see, they come--Sir Despard and his evil crew!
Hide, hide--they are all mad--quite mad!
ROSE. What makes you think that?
MAR. Hush! They sing choruses in public. That's mad
enough, I think. Go--hide away, or they will seize you! Hush!
Quite softly--quite, quite softly!