| SWANS. Right! | } | (louder) |
| MRS. C. Left! |
WOOD. (who has kept on changing arms rapidly) Oh, bother! there! (stuffing both arms into the sling)
Enter MRS. LARKINGS hurriedly, at C. from L.
MRS. L. (running to WOODCOCK) She’s here—Caroline! she’s heard of the duel; that you are wounded in the right arm—(WOODCOCK who has both arms in the sling, draws out the left) though of course I knew it was the left, (WOODCOCK changes arms again) when luckily—I don’t know how it came into my head—I told her it was not her husband but mine who—she’s here—don’t undeceive her; but first off with this. (dragging the sling violently off WOODCOCK’S neck)
Enter MRS. WOODCOCK, hurriedly C. from L.
MRS. W. (running to WOODCOCK) You are not wounded? it was not you then—Oh, I’m so happy! (here LARKINGS appears at C.)
MRS. L. (seeing him, runs to him and flings the sling over his neck) Hush, not a word! (taking hold of his right arm and thrusting it violently into the sling)
LARK. (crying out with pain) Oh!
MRS. L. (aside to him) That’s right—pretend it hurts you! (leading him down) Here is the real culprit; but as he is sufficiently punished already, I forgive him. (aside to LARKINGS, who is about to speak) Hush! You’ll have to wear the sling for a week. I’ll tell you why another time!
LARK. With all my heart. (aside to WOODCOCK shaking his hand) Thanks to you, my wife suspects nothing!