TAUNT. A very bad joke that (they all laugh); but of course you can’t be serious?
HETTY. That will entirely depend, most gallant captain, on whether you are prepared to resign your pretensions! Your rival is a regular fire-eater, I can assure you.
TAUNT. And consequently one who would stand any amount of—kicking, eh?
FLOR. Ha! ha! But don’t you think it’s high time we dropped the tailor?
TAUNT. Certainly!
HETTY. Carried nem. con.—“of Samuel Skruff we’ve had enough.”
FLOR. But tell me, Harry, have you arranged for the payment of the thousand pounds?
TAUNT. Yes! and upon the most favorable terms.
FLOR. Then, not a single word to uncle on the subject until we give you permission. Remember that!
HETTY. Well, I must run away. You’ll have some little compassion on poor Mr. Skruff, won’t you, Florence? ha! ha! ha!