PICKERING [squeezing Eliza’s elbow gently] Be kind to them, Eliza. Make the best of it.
LIZA [forcing a little smile for him through her vexation] Oh well, just to show there’s no ill feeling. I’ll be back in a moment. [She goes out].
DOOLITTLE [sitting down beside Pickering] I feel uncommon nervous about the ceremony, Colonel. I wish you’d come and see me through it.
PICKERING. But you’ve been through it before, man. You were married to Eliza’s mother.
DOOLITTLE. Who told you that, Colonel?
PICKERING. Well, nobody told me. But I concluded naturally—
DOOLITTLE. No: that ain’t the natural way, Colonel: it’s only the middle class way. My way was always the undeserving way. But don’t say nothing to Eliza. She don’t know: I always had a delicacy about telling her.
PICKERING. Quite right. We’ll leave it so, if you don’t mind.
DOOLITTLE. And you’ll come to the church, Colonel, and put me through straight?
PICKERING. With pleasure. As far as a bachelor can.