ften like this?

FRED. Always! And always shall be until you forgive me!
Oh! sir, we will take a pretty country cottage, and you shall
live with us--we will watch over your declining years! And
our babes unborn will circle round your bedside--and close
your venerable eyelids when you leave us!

BLITH. (irritated). No, thank you! You will please request
your babes to let my eyelids alone!

FRED. It can't be! Say--Oh! say you forgive me and open
your withered arms to embrace the most repentant of sons-in-law.

BLITH. Sons-in-law!

FRED. Don't be angry with poor little Lottie!

BLITH. Angry with my daughter? What for?

FRED. Why--for what she's done! Don't you know all about it?

BLITH. No!

FRED. They told me you _did_!

BLITH. Look here, young man--to prevent more mixing we had
better begin at the beginning--I am Bosco Blithers--Who the
deuce are you?

FRED. Whom should I be but Frederick Bellamy?

BLITH. (aside). Lottie's best glove customer. (Aloud.) Well,
what do you want?

FRED. Your consent, it is too late to ask--but your
forgiveness you cannot refuse----

BLITH. I can--and I do! Lottie is engaged to Captain
Cornelius Katskill.

FRED. Engaged! She _can't_ be!

BLITH. I tell you she is! For she loves him to distraction!
He confessed it!

FRED (in passion). If he said that he is a----

BLITH. (stopping him). Hush!

FRED. So he _is_, if he dared say that! He shall withdraw
his words or I will kill him. (Crossing, L.)

BLITH. Kill my future son-in-law! I forbid you!

FRED. What! Do _you_ defend him?

Enter SELWYN, R. 2 E.

SEL. What's this? Fred confabulating with the duellist!

FRED (to BLITHERS). It's no use! I will fight! Return to
your Irishman, and tell him so! (Business. BLITHERS endeavoring
to pacify FRED.)

SEL. What's all this about?

BLITH. (who has given up restraining FRED, in despair. FRED
down L., in chair). About? About as near to raving madness
as ever was seen! Go and buy a straight-jacket, sir, he's
a lunatic. While you are at the straight waistcoat shop you
may as well purchase half a dozen, for he's not the only madman
on the premises.

(Exit BLITHERS, L. U. E.

SEL. I see it all! He would save my life a second time,
by challenging this deliberate desperado!

Enter MRS. SELWYN, L. U. E.

MRS. S. What _is_ the matter, Sam?

SEL. I don't know--I'll ask Fre