t icicle" or whatever it is!

(Exit, door at back.

GRACE. Ten o'clock and pa not yet told that I am engaged!
It's too bad, Corney will be here in half an hour!

TILLY (entering, L. U. E.). A gentleman, miss, says he
wants to see Mr Selwyn.

GRACE. It must be Captain Katskill! Ask him to come in!
(Exit TILLY, L. U. E.) How my heart beats! (Re-enter TILLY
with BLITHERS.) It's _not_ Corney! (BLITHERS is a doddering
old gentleman of bland manners, reddish sandy hair, very short
and standing up all over his head; also big whiskers; in his
hand he carries a fashionable hat, evidently not his own. He
speaks throughout in the blandest tones; he wears enormous
boots built expressly to suit a sufferer from bunions.)

BLITH. Oh! I beg pardon, miss, but I believe Mr.--(looking
inside hat)--Selwyn lives here?

GRACE. My father, sir. If you will take a seat I will
call him. (BLITHERS bows grotesquely and sits, L. Exit GRACE,
R. U. E.)

BLITH. A nice little girl! (A card falls from his pocket
as he pulls out handkerchief.) Bother it! I have forgotten
my wife's instructions again! "Always give your card to the
servant when you make a call," says Susan, "it's etiquette and
it's likely to bring business." She always sees I have plenty of
cards in my pocket, but I mostly forget to give them. (Looking
at card.) Bosco Blithers, professor of penmanship and author of
"_Pot-hooks and Hangers_." I had better drop a few about. (He
places cards on table, mantelpiece, etc., etc., then comes
down and sits on edge of chair.) This Mr. Selwyn must be pretty
well off to judge by his place here and his hat. He left it at
Mr. Dobbinson's while I was giving the juvenile Dobbinson's
their writing lesson, and so I was forced to put on his or
return bareheaded. (Puts on hat which is too small for him,
and looks in glass, C.)

Enter DIBBS quickly.

DIBBS. Couldn't get missus's "_Iced Weep_" at any price.
I daresay they won't keep in this hot weather. Who's the
venerable party?

BLITH. (noting DIBBS and taking off hat). Oh, I beg pardon!

DIBBS. Waiting for the governor, mister?

BLITH. Yes, Mr. (looks in hat)--Mr. Selwyn!

DIBBS (aside). Whew! Suppose this should be that Tompkins,
the owner of the hat! The parlor-maid opened the door to you,
eh, sir?

BLITH. Yes, I presume so. She said I should find Mr. (looking
in hat)--Selwyn in this room.

DIBBS. That's where s