[Hastily.] I’m not mentioning anything, Martin—and neither are you!—Assuredly not the night before my wedding!—when you know perfectly well, or would, if you had the least touch of romance—that I’m all of a flutter inside! [As they step, fumbling a little, into the living-room.] Now where’s that confounded button? This jumpy moonlight makes everything disappear!
[Martin switches on the light, which illumines the old spinnet, L., and the portrait of an elderly woman in crude, modern evening dress, which hangs upon the wall.
Martin.
Here, sir——! [Going to the table, C., on which are several ear-trumpets.] Now you’ll be able to see which ear-trumpet’s the best, sir!
Sanford.
[With a grunt, surveying the instruments before him.] Oh, you unwrapped them!
Martin.
Why, yes, seeing how important it was for to-morrow! I was very careful, sir——
Sanford.
Yes, yes, it would never do to let her go to church with her trumpet broken. Dear, dear, such an unfortunate accident—and the day before the wedding! Here, let’s bring it all into the garden—— [As Martin obeys him, and as they carry the little table just outside.] Not to hear the vows—— [Sentimentally.] “Till death do us part!” [Then, practically, to Martin.] Look here—before I go upstairs, let’s try them out—— [Giving Martin the rope end of one of the trumpets.] You go over there—[With a gesture, right foreground.] and say something!