VALENTINE. Young Blades; I have heard him on it. (She puts her hand wearily to her head). Miss Phoebe—what a dull grey world it is!
(She turns away to hide her emotion, and MISS SUSAN comes in.)
MISS SUSAN. Phoebe, I have said that you will not take the Latin class to-day, and I am dismissing them.
VALENTINE. Latin?
PHOEBE (rather defiantly). I am proud to teach it. (Breaking down.) Susan—his arm—have you seen?
(MISS SUSAN also is overcome, but recovers as the children crowd in.)
MISS SUSAN. Hats off, gentlemen salute, ladies curtsy—to the brave Captain Brown.
(CAPTAIN BROWN salutes them awkwardly, and they cheer him, to his great discomfort, as they pass out.)
VALENTINE (when they have gone). A terrible ordeal, ma'am.
(The old friends look at each other, and there is a silence. VALENTINE feels that all the fine tales and merry jests he has brought back for the ladies have turned into dead things. He wants to go away and think.)