PHOEBE. To weary of Phoebe patient, lady-like Phoebe the Phoebe whom I have lost to turn from her with a 'Bah, you make me old,' and become enamoured in a night of a thing like this!
MISS SUSAN. Yes, yes, indeed; yet he has been kind to us also. He has been to visit us several times.
PHOEBE. In the hope to see her. Was he not most silent and gloomy when we said she was gone out?
MISS SUSAN. He is infatuate (She hesitates. ) Sister, you are not partial to him still?
PHOEBE. No, Susan, no. I did love him all those years, though I never spoke of it to you. I put hope aside at once, I folded it up and kissed it and put it away like a pretty garment I could never wear again, I but loved to think of him as a noble man. But he is not a noble man, and Livvy found it out in an hour. The gallant! I flirted that I might enjoy his fury. Susan, there has been a declaration in his eyes all to-night, and when he cries 'Adorable Miss Livvy, be mine,' I mean to answer with an 'Oh, la, how ridiculous you are. You are much too old I have been but quizzing you, sir.'
MISS SUSAN. Phoebe, how can you be so cruel?
PHOEBE. Because he has taken from me the one great glory that is in a woman's life. Not a man's love she can do without that but her own dear sweet love for him. He is unworthy of my love; that is why I can be so cruel.
MISS SUSAN. Oh, dear.
PHOEBE. And now my triumph is to be denied me, for we must steal away home before Henrietta and Fanny see us.
MISS SUSAN. Yes, yes.
PHOEBE (dispirited ). And to-morrow we must say that Livvy has gone back to her father, for I dare keep up this deception no longer. Susan, let us go.
(They are going dejectedly, but are arrested by the apparition of MISS HENRIETTA and MISS FANNY peeping into the tent . PHOEBE has just time to signify to her sister that she will confess all and beg for mercy, when the intruders speak. )not triumphant but astounded
PHOEBE (with bowed head ).
Yes.
MISS FANNY. How amazing! You do not deny, ma'am, that you are Miss Phoebe?
PHOEBE (making confession ). Yes, Fanny, I am Miss Phoebe.
(To her bewilderment HENRIETTA and FANNY exchange ashamed glances. )
MISS FANNY. Phoebe, we apologise.
MISS HENRIETTA. To think how excitedly we have been following her about in the shrubbery.
MISS FANNY. She is wearing your cloak.
MISS HENRIETTA. Ensign Blades told us she was gone to the shrubbery.
MISS FANNY. And we were convinced there was no such person.
MISS HENRIETTA. So of course we thought it must be you.
MISS FANNY (who has looked out ). I can discern her in the shrubbery still. She is decidedly taller than Phoebe.
MISS HENRIETTA. I thought she looked taller. I meant to say so. Phoebe, 'twas the cloak deceived us. We could not see her face.
PHOEBE (beginning to understand ). Cloak? You mean, Henrietta you mean, Fanny
MISS FANNY. 'Twas wicked of us, my dear, but we we thought that you and Miss Livvy were the same person. (They have evidently been stalking CHARLOTTE in MISS PHOEBE'S cloak . MISS SUSAN shudders, but MISS PHOEBE utters a cry of reproach, and it is some time before they can persuade her to forgive them. It is of course also some time before we can forgive MISS PHOEBE.) Phoebe, you look so pretty. Are they paying you no attentions, my dear?
(PHOEBE is unable to resist these delightful openings. The imploring looks MISS SUSAN gives her but add to her enjoyment. It is as if the sense of fun she had caged a moment ago were broke loose again. )
MISS HENRIETTA. Surely not Captain Brown?
PHOEBE. He is infatuate about her.
MISS FANNY. Poor Phoebe!
(They make much of her, and she purrs naughtily to their stroking, with lightning peeps at MISS SUSAN. Affronted Providence seeks to pay her out by sending ENSIGN BLADES into the tent. Then the close observer may see MISS PHOEBE'S heart sink like a bucket in a well . MISS SUSAN steals from the tent. )
BLADES. Ma'am, excuse me.
MISS HENRIETTA (indignant that MISS PHOEBE should be slighted so publicly ). Sir, you are a most ungallant and deficient young man.
BLADES. Really, ma'am, I assure you
MISS HENRIETTA. Not another word, sir.
PHOEBE (in her most old-maidish manner ). Miss Fanny, Miss Henrietta, it is time I spoke plainly to this gentleman. Please leave him to me. Surely 'twill come best from me.
MISS HENRIETTA. Indeed, yes, if it be not too painful to you.
PHOEBE. I must do my duty.
MISS FANNY (wistfully ). If we could remain
PHOEBE. Would it be seemly, Miss Fanny?
MISS HENRIETTA. Come, Fanny. (To BLADES.) Sir, you bring your punishment upon yourself.
(They press PHOEBE'S hand, and go. Her heart returns to its usual abode. )bewildered
PHOEBE. Oh, no.
BLADES. Miss Livvy, I have something to say to you of supreme importance to me. With
regard to my complexion, I am aware, Miss Livvy, that it has retained a too youthful bloom. My brother officers comment on it with a certain lack of generosity. (Anxiously. ) Might I inquire, ma'am, whether you regard my complexion as a subject for light talk.