PHOEBE. I wrote and begged you not to come.
VALENTINE. You implied as a lover, Miss Phoebe, but surely always as a friend.
PHOEBE. Oh yes, yes.
VALENTINE. You told Miss Livvy that you loved me once. How carefully you hid it from me!
PHOEBE (more firmly ). A woman must never tell. You went away to the great battles. I was left to fight in a little one. Women have a flag to fly, Mr. Brown, as well as men, and old maids have a flag as well as women. I tried to keep mine flying.
VALENTINE. But you ceased to care for me. (Tenderly. ) I dare ask your love no more, but I still ask you to put yourself into my keeping. Miss Phoebe, let me take care of you.
PHOEBE. It cannot be.
VALENTINE. This weary teaching! Let me close your school.
PHOEBE. Please, sir.
VALENTINE. If not for your own sake, I ask you, Miss Phoebe, to do it for mine. In memory of the thoughtless recruit who went off laughing to the wars. They say ladies cannot quite forget the man who has used them ill; Miss Phoebe, do it for me because I used you ill.
PHOEBE. I beg you no more.
VALENTINE (manfully ). There, it is all ended. Miss Phoebe, here is my hand on it.
PHOEBE. What will you do now?
VALENTINE. I also must work.
I will become a physician again, with some drab old housekeeper to neglect me and the house. Do you foresee the cobwebs gathering and gathering, Miss Phoebe?
PHOEBE. Oh, sir!
VALENTINE. You shall yet see me in Quality Street, wearing my stock all awry.
PHOEBE. Oh, oh!
VALENTINE. And with snuff upon my sleeve.
PHOEBE. Sir, sir!
VALENTINE. No skulker, ma'am, I hope, but gradually turning into a grumpy, crusty, bottle-nosed old bachelor.
PHOEBE. Oh, Mr. Brown!
VALENTINE. And all because you will not walk across the street with me.
PHOEBE. Indeed, sir, you must marry and I hope it may be some one who is really like a garden.
VALENTINE. I know but one. That reminds me, Miss Phoebe, of something I had forgot. (He produces a paper from his pocket. ) 'Tis a trifle I have wrote about you. But I fear to trouble you.
(PHOEBE'S hands go out longingly for it. )reading
(The beauty of this makes her falter. She looks up.)with a poet's pride
PHOEBE (reading )
(MISS PHOEBE has thought herself strong, but she is not able to read such exquisite lines without betraying herself to a lover's gaze. )excitedly
PHOEBE (retreating from him but clinging to her poem ). You promised not to ask.
VALENTINE. I know not why you should, Miss Phoebe, but I believe you love me still!
(MISS PHOEBE has the terrified appearance of a detected felon. )MISS SUSAN returns.
MISS SUSAN. You are talking so loudly.
VALENTINE. Miss Susan, does she care for me still?
MISS SUSAN (forgetting her pride of sex ). Oh, sir, how could she help it.
VALENTINE. Then by Gad, Miss Phoebe, you shall marry me though I have to carry you in my arms to the church.
PHOEBE. Sir, how can you!
(But MISS SUSAN gives her a look which means that it must be done if only to avoid such a scandal. It is at this inopportune moment that MISS HENRIETTA and MISS FANNY are announced. )
PHOEBE (with a little spirit ). Yes, indeed.
MISS SUSAN (a mistress of sarcasm ). How is Mary, Fanny? She has not been to see us for several minutes.
MISS FANNY (somewhat daunted ). Mary is so partial to you, Susan.
VALENTINE. Your servant, Miss Henrietta, Miss Fanny.
MISS FANNY. How do you do, sir?
MISS HENRIETTA (wistfully ). And how do you find Miss Livvy, sir?
VALENTINE. I have not seen her, Miss Henrietta.
MISS HENRIETTA. Indeed!
MISS FANNY. Not even you?
VALENTINE. You seem surprised?
MISS FANNY. Nay, sir, you must not say so; but really, Phoebe!
PHOEBE. Fanny, you presume!
VALENTINE (puzzled ). If one of you ladies would deign to enlighten me. To begin with, what is Miss Livvy's malady?
MISS HENRIETTA. He does not know? Oh,
Phoebe.
VALENTINE. Ladies, have pity on a dull man, and explain.
MISS FANNY (timidly ). Please not to ask us to explain. I fear we have already said more than was proper. Phoebe, forgive.
(To CAPTAIN BROWN this but adds to the mystery, and he looks to PHOEBE for enlightenment. )desperate
VALENTINE. My passion for Miss Livvy? Why, Miss Fanny, I cannot abide her nor she me. (Looking manfully at MISS PHOEBE.) Furthermore, I am proud to tell you that this is the lady whom I adore.
MISS FANNY. Phoebe?
VALENTINE. Yes, ma'am.
(The ladies are for a moment bereft of speech, and the uplifted PHOEBE cannot refrain from a movement which, if completed, would be a curtsy. Her punishment follows promptly. )from her heart
MISS FANNY. Dear Phoebe, I give you joy. And you also, sir. (MISS PHOEBE sends her sister a glance of unutterable woe, and escapes from the room. It is most ill-bred of her. ) Miss Susan, I do not understand!
MISS HENRIETTA. Is it that Miss Livvy is an obstacle?