SCENE II.—_The same. Time, evening. MR. BLISS sits alone, R.,

with his feet resting on the table, smoking and reading the evening paper. A lady (DICK disguised as MRS. PAYNE) enters L., wearing bonnet and shawl, and closely veiled. MR. BLISS starts up in excitement and offers his hand._

MR. B. Good-evening, Mrs. Payne. I am very happy to see you. (_Leads her to a seat._) Lay aside your bonnet and shawl, won’t you?

MRS. PAYNE. No, I thank you. I cannot stop long. I only came in to make a call.

MR. B. I am afraid this smoke is offensive to you.

MRS. P. Oh, not at all. I enjoy the fragrance of a good cigar.

(_MR. B. lays down his cigar._)

MRS. P. It is quite cool out, this evening.

MR. B. Yes—no—that is, it may be—but I haven’t been out this evening.

MRS. P. I haven’t seen you at our house for several days.

MR. B. (_nervously_). No—I—have been very busy and couldn’t come, but have thought of you, and meant to come.

MRS. P. So you have thought of me. I am glad of that. I have thought of you, also.

MR. B. (_startled_). Ah! Th—thank you, but—

MRS. P. (_interrupting_). I dare say you couldn’t guess my errand to-night.

MR. B. (_nervously_). Oh—no, of course not.

MRS. P. I have long loved you, and have felt certain that I was not disagreeable to you—and, knowing your timidity, I have availed myself of the privileges of Leap Year to come and offer myself to you. (_Rises and throws her arms around his neck._) Hiram, I love you,—do you reciprocate my affection?

MR. B. (_almost overpowered, and looking around, nervously_). I—I—must take time to think of it—it is so sudden.

MRS. P. It may be sudden—and yet why delay our happiness? (_Her head droops on his shoulder._)

MR. B. I—I need time to consider (_a sound of approaching footsteps is heard_)—I—I must go—let me go. I have an engagement at nine.

MRS. P. Then give your consent to our marriage.

MR. B. (_struggling frantically to free himself_). I cannot—I—(_a sound is heard as of a person at the door_). Let me go—let me go—(_in an imploring tone_) quick—somebody’s coming.

MRS. P. Say yes, then, dearest Hiram.

MR. B. (_in an agony of fear_). Yes, yes—anything, if you will only leave me. (_MRS. P. imprints an audible kiss upon his forehead and turns to leave the room. Apparently by mistake she grasps the bell-knob and pulls it vigorously. She goes out by one door, L., as servant enters by another, R._)

SERVANT. Did you ring, sir?

MR. B. Ring? N—no. I don’t wish for anything.

S. That’s strange. The bell rang distinctly, and so loud that I thought you was in a hurry.

MR. B. Well, it’s of no consequence. I don’t need anything.

(_Exit SERVANT, R._)

MR. B. (_pacing the room and soliloquizing_). What have I done? Engaged myself to this widow, notwithstanding all my resolutions to the contrary. But something must be done about it. What shall it be? I might leave town—but that would be cowardly. Besides, I shouldn’t want to shut up the house. I might write, saying I had changed my mind; but I’m afraid that wouldn’t be just the thing. (_Paces back and forth a few moments without speaking._) The fact is, I shall be obliged to marry the widow. There seems to be no other way left me, after giving my promise to her. But I won’t say a word to Dick about it. (_A pause._) After all, I might do a worse thing. She would be a credit to my establishment, and the presence of a woman _would_ brighten up the house. I guess I must go there in the morning and talk the matter over.

(_Curtain falls._)