Jen. (with a little suppressed emotion). I’m so sorry we shall not see you again. Papa will be very sorry.
Spread. More sorry than you will be?
Jen. Well, no, I shall be very sorry, too—very, very sorry—there!
Spread. How very kind of you to say so.
Jen. We have known each other so long—so many years, and we’ve always been good friends, and it’s always sad to say good-bye for the last time (he is delighted) to anybody! (he relapses). It’s so very sad when one knows for certain that it must be the last time.
Spread. I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear you say it’s so sad. But (hopefully) my prospects are not altogether hopeless, there’s one chance for me yet. I’m happy to say I’m extremely delicate, and there’s no knowing, the climate may not agree with me, and I may be invalided home! (very cheerfully).
Jen. Oh! but that would be very dreadful.
Spread. Oh, yes, of course it would be dreadful in one sense; but it—it would have its advantages. (Looking uneasily at Wilcox, who is hard at work.) Wilcox is hard at work, I see.
Jen. Oh, yes, Wilcox is hard at work. He is very industrious.
Spread. Confoundedly industrious! He is working in the sun without his hat. (Significantly.)