JENNY. Didn't you long to see your--your friends at home--when you were in prison, Captain?
HEARTSEASE. Yes--especially--I longed especially, Miss Buckthorn, to see--
HEARTSEASE. But there were lots of jolly fellows in the prison. [JENNY _turns away._] We had a dramatic society, and a glee club, and an orchestra. I was one of the orchestra. I had a banjo, with one string; I played one tune on it, that I used to play on the piano with one finger. But, Miss Buckthorn, I am a prisoner again, to-night--your prisoner.
HEARTSEASE. I'll show you how that tune went. [_Turns to piano; sits._
JENNY. [_Aside._] Papa said I'd have to help him, but I don't see an opening. [HEARTSEASE _plays part of an air with one finger; strikes two or three wrong notes._
HEARTSEASE. There are two notes down there, somewhere, that I never could get right. The fellows in prison used to dance while I played--[_Playing._]--that is, the lame ones did; those that weren't lame couldn't keep the time.
JENNY. You must have been in great danger, Captain, when you escaped from prison.
HEARTSEASE. Y-e-s. I was badly frightened several times. One night I came face to face, on the road, with a Confederate officer. It was Captain Thornton.
HEARTSEASE. I killed him. [_Very quietly, and trying the tune again at once. Enter_ JANNETTE, _from in hall; she glances into the room and goes up the stairs._] I used to skip those two notes on the banjo. It's very nice for a soldier to come home from the war, and meet those--I mean the one particular person--that he--you see, when a soldier loves a woman, as--as--
JENNY. [_Aside._] As he loves me. [_Approaches him._
HEARTSEASE. As soldiers often do--[_Plays; she turns away, petulantly; he plays the tune through correctly._] That's it!
JENNY. [_Aside._] I'm not going to be made love to by piece-meal, like this, any longer. [_Aloud._] Captain Heartsease! Have you anything in particular to say to me? [_He looks up._
JENNY. Say it! You told my father, and all my friends, that you were in love with me. Whom are you going to tell next?
HEARTSEASE. [_Going near to her._] Do you love me?
JENNY. [_Laying her head quietly on his breast._] I must take time to consider.
HEARTSEASE. [_Quietly._] I assume that this means "Yes."