"What news, John, about Wentworth's proposal?"
"Yes," said the Captain, smiling at her indiscretion.
"How did you know it—has Edith or Johnny told you?"
"No one but your simple self, Floss,—you are a capital secret keeper; I shall get you appointed to be secretary to the King."
"Oh, dear! what have I done? you won't tell—you will get me into such a scrape!"
"No fears, Florence," said the Captain, walking off.
"Then you won't dance, John?"
"Not I; d—n dancing."
When he rejoined L'Estrange, he said, "Just as I thought. Florence let the cat out of the bag famously; he has proposed, and been accepted too; confound it—this has come unexpectedly soon!"
"Oh! my God! this is agony," said the rejected lover, wringing his hands together.