Dun There's that damned rhinoceros again. [Exit into cottage, with Georgina.]
Asa There goes that benighted aristocrat and that little toad of a sick gal. [Looks off.] There he's a settling her in a chair and covering her all over with shawls. Ah! it's a caution, how these women do fix our flint for us. Here he comes. [Takes out bottle.] How are you, hair dye. [Goes behind dairy.]
Dun That lovely Georgina puts me in mind of that beautiful piece of poetry. Let me see how it goes. The rose is red, the violet's blue. [Asa tips his hat over his eyes.]
Dun [Comes down, takes off hat, looking in it.] There must be something alive in that hat. [Goes up, and commences again.] The rose is red, the violet's blue, sugar is sweet, and so is somebody, and so is somebody else.
Asa puts yoke on Dundreary's shoulders gently. Dundreary comes down with pails.
Dun I wonder what the devil that is? [Lowers one, then the other, they trip him up.] Oh, I see, somebody has been fishing and caught a pail. [Goes hopping up stage, stumbling over against spinning wheel. Looks at yarn on stick.] Why, what a little old man. [Sees Asa.] Say, Mr. Exile, what the devil is this?
Asa That is a steam engine, and will bust in about a minute.
Dun Well, I haven't a minute to spare, so I'll not wait till it busts. [Crosses to R., knocks against private box, R. H., apologizes.]
Asa Say, whiskers, I want to ask a favor of you.
Dun [Attempts to sneeze.] Now I've got it.
Asa Wal, but say. [Dundreary's sneezing bus.]
Asa [Takes his hand.] How are you. [Squeezes it.]
Dun Spoiled what! why a magnificent sneeze.
Asa Oh! was that what you was trying to get through you?
Asa Wal, now, the naked truth is--[Leans arm on Dundreary's shoulder. Bus. by Dundreary.] Oh, come now, don't be putting on airs. Say, do you know Lieut. Vernon?
Asa Wal, what do you think of him, on an average?
Asa Wal, I think he's a real hoss, and he wants a ship.
Dun Well if he's a real hoss, he must want a carriage.
Asa Wal, now, I say. [Dundreary trying to sneeze.]
Dundreary business. Asa bites his finger. Dundreary goes up, stumbles against chair and comes down again.
Dun He says I've got a wart. I've got the influenza.
Asa That's it exactly. I want your influence, sir, to get that ship.