HEARTSEASE. Yes—especially—I longed especially, Miss Buckthorn, to see—
JENNY. Yes!—to see—
HEARTSEASE. But there were lots of jolly fellows in the prison. [JENNY turns away.] We had a dramatic society, and a glee club, and an orchestra. I was one of the orchestra. I had a banjo, with one string; I played one tune on it, that I used to play on the piano with one finger. But, Miss Buckthorn, I am a prisoner again, to-night—your prisoner.
JENNY. [Aside.] At last!
HEARTSEASE. I'll show you how that tune went. [Turns to piano; sits.
JENNY. [Aside.] Papa said I'd have to help him, but I don't see an opening. [HEARTSEASE plays part of an air with one finger; strikes two or three wrong notes.
HEARTSEASE. There are two notes down there, somewhere, that I never could get right. The fellows in prison used to dance while I played—[Playing.]—that is, the lame ones did; those that weren't lame couldn't keep the time.
JENNY. You must have been in great danger, Captain, when you escaped from prison.
HEARTSEASE. Y-e-s. I was badly frightened several times. One night
I came face to face, on the road, with a Confederate officer. It was
Captain Thornton.
JENNY. Oh! What did you do?