(PATTY shows in two visitors, MISS CHARLOTTE PARRATT and ENSIGN BLADES. CHARLOTTE is a pretty minx who we are glad to say does not reside in Quality Street, and BLADES is a callow youth, inviting admiration.)
CHARLOTTE (as they salute). But I did not know you had company, Miss Susan.
MISS SUSAN. 'Tis Captain Brown—Miss Charlotte Parratt.
CHARLOTTE (gushing). The heroic Brown?
VALENTINE. Alas, no, ma'am, the other one.
CHARLOTTE. Miss Susan, do you see who accompanies me?
MISS SUSAN. I cannot quite recall——
BLADES. A few years ago, ma'am, there sat in this room a scrubby, inky little boy—I was that boy.
MISS SUSAN. Can it be our old pupil—Ensign Blades?
(She thinks him very fine, and he bows, well pleased.)