MRS. L. (L.) It’s very shocking! but there’s something worse behind.
WOOD. (looking behind him) Where?
MRS. L. I mean that Mrs. Colonel Carver knows everything. She’ll return immediately; when she’s done screaming, your only hope is to plead guilty at once and sue for pardon for Caroline’s sake—you know that’s her tender point!
WOOD. I will! I’ll throw myself at once upon her tender point.
MRS. C. (without) Don’t tell me! I can’t—I won’t believe it!
Enter MRS. CARVER, hurriedly, R., and sees WOODCOCK with his arm in the sling.
MRS. C. (assuming a very pathetic attitude) Ah! it’s true! (screams and falls into chair, MRS. LARKINGS runs to her—WOODCOCK and LARKINGS exchange winks and laugh)
MRS. L. (to MRS. C.) Hush! the arm is only slightly, very slightly wounded.
MRS. C. I know better! they’ll have to amputate it! I shall have a one-armed son-in-law—a wretched, helpless cripple! (suddenly to MRS. LARKINGS) My dear friend, go to poor dear Caroline—don’t leave her till I’ve had time to do all my screaming! I know I screamed in the cab, but not half enough! Go, go!
Exit MRS. LARKINGS, C., followed by LARKINGS, who again exchanges winks, &c., with WOODCOCK.