[_JENNIE gives a little scream of delight._
_Jennie._ Oh, Mr. Yardsley, this is so suddent like and unexpected, and me so far beneath you!
[_YARDSLEY looks up and is covered with confusion._
_Yardsley._ Great Scott! What have I done?
_Jennie._ But of course it ain't for the likes of me to say no to--
_Yardsley_ (_rising_). For Heaven's sake, Jennie--do be sensi-- Don't--say--Jennie, why--ah-- (_Aside._) Oh, confound it! What the deuce shall I say? What's the matter with my tongue? Where's my vocabulary? A word! a word! my kingdom for a word! (_Aloud._) Now, Jen--
_Jennie_ (_coyly_). I has been engaged to Mr. Hicks, the coach gentleman, sir, but--
_Yardsley._ Good! good! I congratulate you, Jennie. Hicks is a very fine fellow. Drives like a--like a driver, Jennie, a born driver. I've seen him many a time sitting like a king on his box--yes, indeed. Noticed him often. Admired him. Gad, Jennie, I'll see him myself and tell him; and what is more, Jennie, I'll--I'll give Hicks a fine present.
_Jennie._ Yes, sir; I has no doubt as how you'll be doin' the square thing by Hicks, for, as I was a-sayin', I has been engaged like to him, an' he has some rights; but I think as how, if I puts it to him right like, and tells him what a nice gentleman you are (_a ring is heard at the front-door_), it'll be all right, sir. But there goes the bell and I must run, Mr. Yardsley. (_Ecstatically kissing her hand._) Bob!
_Yardsley_ (_with a convulsive gasp_). Bob? Jennie! You--er--you misun--(_JENNIE, with a smile of joy and an ecstatic glance at YARDSLEY, dances from the room to attend the door. YARDSLEY throws himself into a chair._) Well, I'll be teetotally--Awh! It's too dead easy proposing to somebody you don't know you are proposing to. What a kettle of fish this is, to be sure! Oh, pshaw! that woman can't be serious. She must know I didn't mean it for her. But if she doesn't, good Lord! what becomes of me? (_Rises, and paces up and down the room nervously. After a moment he pauses before the glass._) I ought to be considerably dishevelled by this. I feel as if I'd been drawn through a knot-hole--or--or dropped into a stone-crusher--that's it, a stone-crusher--a ten-million horse-power stone-crusher. Let's see how you look, you poor idiot.