MRS. J. Lud a mercy! (_looking again at BROWN_) Eh? can it be? no—yes it is— (_to O’WALKER_) that gentleman’s no more mad than you are—you’re mistaken in your man, and I’ll prove it. (_goes to BROWN and in a loud voice_) Walker!
BROWN. (_jumping round with a savage yell_) Ah!
MRS. J. (C.) Cousin Brown, don’t you know me? (_alarmed_)
BROWN. (R.) Cousin Jellicoe, delighted to see you! (_advancing to her, seizing her hands and shaking them violently_)
MRS. J. (_in a soothing tone_) Don’t agitate yourself, Barbican. I wouldn’t have touched upon such a delicate subject for the world—but I never heard a syllable about the “Baron’s fair daughter—or the twopenny postman” either till I was told of it just now by Mr.——
O’WALKER. (_interrupting her_) Exactly. (_aside to BROWN, who looks astonished_) Don’t notice what she says, poor soul—insane! sad case!—last Christmas went out without her bonnet—burning sun—snow on the ground—never recovered it! (_goes up_)
BROWN. (_pathetically and looking at MRS. J._) Poor soul!
MRS. J. And now, Cousin Brown, now that I’ve got you—(_suddenly taking his arm—BROWN rather alarmed_) we must talk over a certain little matter—in other words, my darling Fanny is only waiting for her dear godpapa’s consent to get married—isn’t she, Mr. O’Wal—— (_to O’WALKER_)
O’WALKER. (_very quickly_) Yes—yes. (_aside_) This is getting intensely exciting!
BROWN. Well, my consent shan’t be wanting, nor a wedding portion either, provided I approve of Fanny’s choice. What sort of a fellow is he—eh?
MRS. J. Judge for yourself, Cousin Brown—for there he is. (_pointing to O’WALKER_)
BROWN. Eh!—I’m delighted to hear it!— (_shaking O’WALKER’S hand_) but where’s my god-daughter?—Brown requires his god-daughter!
MRS. J. There she is! (_to FANNY, who runs in L._) Fanny, embrace your godpapa—he consents to your marriage.
FANNY. Oh, you dear, good, kind, handsome old man! (_embracing BROWN_) Why don’t you throw your arms round him too, John Horatio?
MRS. J. (_aside to him_) Yes—but no relation to the twopenny postman, on my honour.
BROWN. (_after a short pause and eyeing O’WALKER with a savage earnestness, then approaching him and in a loud whisper_) So, sir!——
O’WALKER. I very much regret that most important business with the Austrian Ambassador—— (_going_)