_
METCALF. [_Aside to_ ROSE.] Hist! Miss Elsworth!
ROSE. Eh!
METCALF. Walter is near--a note--
ROSE. [_Seizing it, and reading hurriedly._] Will be with you to-day--
KATE. [_Looking towards right, at the window_.] Doesn't he look fine?
There's his step in the hall.
[_They all go towards door_. ROSE _conceals_ WALTER'S _note_.
HARRY. [_Within_.] Rose, Kate, father!
_Enter_ LIEUTENANT HARRY ELSWORTH. _All gather around him with
exclamations of welcome._
METCALF. [_Aside_.] I'll take occasion to steal down-stairs, and
plague Bridget into a kiss or two. Delicious Bridget!
[_Exit_ METCALF.
ELSWORTH. Harry! My brave lad!
ROSE. Dear brother!
HARRY. Dear sister! Father!
ELSWORTH. Stand aside, girls. Let me have a look at him. Harry! Harry!
You are a splendid-looking fellow, you are. Ha, ha, ha! Your hand, my
boy. You look like a soldier, sir.
HARRY. I have good news for you. I have just rode on before to
acquaint you that Major Cleveland will honour your roof to-day.
ELSWORTH. He shall be welcome--open doors and open hands.
HARRY. He will remain until to-morrow. Now, girls, some of us young
fellows are dying for a dance--can't we extemporize a ball?
ROSE. Good gracious, Harry! You will have to pit coat against
coat--where are your ladies?
HARRY. Oh, we'd drum them up. There are a dozen families within as
many miles.
ROSE. A mad idea.
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