Miss Mea. ’Tis very strange that no one appears to receive us.
All. (To each other, and with great coquetry.) Very, very strange! Don’t you think so?
Miss Mea. What is this? A letter! and directed “From, the lady of the house to Mr. Pinkey.” (Taking up the pink letter on the table.)
Pin. To me!
[PINKEY rises in alarm, MISS MEADOWS hands him the letter.
Pin. (Reading.) “From the lady of the house to——” Oh, dear, what can it be about?
Boss. A love letter, perhaps.
All. Read it—read it!
Pin. (Opens the letter and reads; they all rise and surround him.) “The lady of the house hearing that her new neighbours have formed attachments that only require a little decision and a good example to end in matrimony, has invited them to propose, that each person shall write on a slip of paper the name of the party that he or she could be most happy with for life, and where there may be a mutuality to marry accordingly.
All. How strange—how odd!