Enter Grace, R. 2 E.
Sel. (taking card). “Captain Cornelius Katskill.” I am not at home, I never shall be at home again; what does he want?
Mrs. S. (aside to Selwyn). Oh, Sam, I forgot to tell you after all. It’s the young Irish officer we met at the Claremonts’ and who was so attentive to Grace, in fact, I fully expect he has called to ask permission to consider himself formally engaged to her.
Sel. Grace engaged! What nonsense; she is engaged, isn’t she?
Grace (indignantly). No, papa!
Sel. Yes, you are! Or you are going to be, which is just the same, to my friend Fred Bellamy. I must repay him for saving my life!
Grace. “Pay,” papa! You talk of me as though I were a cheque instead of a child! I don’t love Mr. Bellamy!
Sel. Not love him! He saved your father’s life, and you dare to say you don’t love him; this is the gratitude of girls! (Crosses to L.)
Grace. I can’t—I can’t; for I love somebody else.
Sel. Somebody else! You mustn’t, can’t, won’t, don’t, or shan’t love somebody else!