Meanwhile ETHEL has re-entered, R., and sat beside him.
ETHEL. Do you find the paper very interesting?
CAPT. (jumping up) Miss Darlington! I beg ten thousand pardons for not seeing you before. This is indeed a happy meeting. I was reading in the paper that a galaxy of rank and beauty was at Dumpington, and I was wondering where the beauty was, unconscious that it was so near me.
ETHEL. Very near indeed, for Miss Carruthers is at this hotel.
CAPT. I beg your pardon, who is?
ETHEL. Miss Carruthers.
CAPT. What, is Miss Carruthers Miss Carruthers still?
ETHEL. Oh, dear me, yes.
CAPT. (aside) Hurrah! She doesn’t know I’m married. “Sound the loud timbrel o’er Egypt’s——” (a tambourine strikes up outside) Oh, dear!
ETHEL. There’s that eternal woman with the tambourine; do send her away, please!