Lady C. } Oh!! [Groaning. Charles. [Aside to him.] Softly, softly, old fellow. [Resumes his starched manner.] Permit me, Captain Murphy Maguire, to present you to Mrs. Charles Torrens, the partner of my present joys and future hopes. Eve, my dearest, allow me to present you to my oldest and best friend, Captain Murphy Maguire. [Mrs. Torrens bows coldly, but graciously. Capt. I am delighted to make your acquaintance. [Crosses to her.] Charley and I are old friends-I rejoice at his good fortune! Charley, your wife's a first-rate angel. You'll excuse my freedom, madam, but what I think I say. [Mrs. Torrens smiles and appears pleased; Sleek and Lady Creamly exchange doleful glances. Lady C. [Aside to Mrs. Torrens.] Don't answer him. Sleek. [Aside.] A profligate! Capt. You're a lucky villain, Charley !-what eyes! like a general illumination !—what a shape! she's a model for a Venus! All. Oh!! [Groaning. Charles. [Pulling him by the coat.] What the devil are you about? Capt. [Looking with astonishment at him, and the formal faces at the table.] What's the damage, and what have I done, and what have I said? You're wife is a beauty, and what I think I say! Why, you're not jealous, Charley? But, where is Emma-my little Emma-the little rosebud ? Lady C. [Rising, and bowing stiffly.] Miss Torrens, sir, is with her governess in the library. Capt. Upon my honor, I meant no offence. I should have said Miss Torrens; but Charles and I are such old friends, and have seen such roaring times together, and— Charles. [Interrupting.] My mother-in-law, Captain Murphy Maguire, Lady Sowerby Creamly. Capt. [Bows very low.] I have the honor. [Crosses to her.] Very proud, I assure you-Charley's friends are mine. Lady C. [With cold disdain.] You overwhelm me with the weight of the honor. [Takes a book and reads. Capt. [Aside to Charles.] The old dromedary in the A trifle and salt is the father-in-law, I suppose. pepper the worse for wear, but the heart is in the right place, I hope. Charles. [Aside.] Pull up, old fellow! That's Mr. Aminadab Sleek,perpetual member of the borough of Solemncolly, and a great gun at Exeter Hall. [Aloud.] Captain Maguire, this is my excellent and most worthy ally, Mr. Aminadab Sleek, the especial friend of this family-the friend of the poor-the friend of all the world-[Aside.]—who give good dinners, and have rich daughters to marry. [Crosses to L. [Sleek bows slowly; Maguire runs up, and shakes him heartily by the hand. Capt. Delighted to make your acquaintance, sir. Oh, we shall be the best friends in the world; only wait till I get you snugly seated before a steaming jug of whiskeypunch, and behind a full-flavored havannah, and I'll be bound to take the wrinkles out of you. Sleek. Lady C. Mrs. T. } Oh ! ! [Groaning. Capt. Well, Charley, here I am, and here I mean to stay. [Sits L. of table.] I have a week's leave of absence, and so I thought I'd run up and see my old friends. I say, old fellow, you are well tiled in. I suppose you've a room where we can sling a hammock. With your leave, ladies, what I think I say. Lady C. Sir! Mrs. T. Certainly. [All rise and come forward. Charles. [Embarrassed.] Oh! certainly. Capt. I couldn't think for a moment, Charley, of stopping at an hotel, while you have a house in town; we have so much to say-to talk over old times, you sinner! Oh! don't be alarmed, ladies; a reformed rake always makes a good husband, and Charley, certainly, was the devil's own boy! Mrs. T. My husband a rake! Lady C. Impossible! Capt. I have brought you, Charley, a case of regalias that would make the Queen of Spain's mouth water. I know you of old, you robber!-a dozen a-day! Charles. Be quiet! will you? [Pulling him by the coat. Capt. What's the matter?-Lady Creamly, Mrs. Lady C. Sleek. } [Groaning. Oh!! Charles. [Aside to him.] Softly, softly, old fellow. [Resumes his starched manner.] Permit me, Captain Murphy Maguire, to present you to Mrs. Charles Torrens, the partner of my present joys and future hopes. Eve, my dearest, allow me to present you to my oldest and best friend, Captain Murphy Maguire. [Mrs. Torrens bows coldly, but graciously. Capt. I am delighted to make your acquaintance. [Crosses to her.] Charley and I are old friends-I rejoice at his good fortune! Charley, your wife's a first-rate angel. You'll excuse my freedom, madam, but what I think I say. [Mrs. Torrens smiles and appears pleased; Sleek and Lady Creamly exchange doleful glances. Lady C. [Aside to Mrs. Torrens.] Don't answer him. Sleek. [Aside.] A profligate! Capt. You're a lucky villain, Charley !-what eyes! like a general illumination !—what a shape! she's a model for a Venus! All. Oh!! [Groaning. Charles. [Pulling him by the coat.] What the devil are you about? Capt. [Looking with astonishment at him, and the formal faces at the table.] What's the damage, and what have I done, and what have I said? You're wife is a beauty, and what I think I say! Why, you're not jealous, Charley? But, where is Emma-my little Emma-the little rosebud? Lady C. [Rising, and bowing stiffly.] Miss Torrens, sir, is with her governess in the library. Capt. Upon my honor, I meant no offence. I should have said Miss Torrens; but Charles and I are such old friends, and have seen such roaring times together, and— Charles. [Interrupting.] My mother-in-law, Captain Murphy Maguire, Lady Sowerby Creamly. Capt. [Bows very low.] I have the honor. [Crosses to her.] Very proud, I assure you-Charley's friends are mine. Lady C. With cold disdain.] You overwhelm me with the weight of the honor. [Takes a book and reads. Capt. [Aside to Charles.] The old dromedary in the |