d! Fred! my dear boy, what is
the matter? (FRED has sunk down with his face in his hands, L.)
On what are you meditating, Fred?

FRED. I am meditating why I did not let you stop at the
bottom of the lake. I mean to leave this wretched London,
where all is perfidy and deceit!

Enter GRACE, L. U. E.

FRED (going up to GRACE). Good-bye, Miss Selwyn, and
good-bye, Mrs. Selwyn, good-bye, Sam. If I met the wretch who
has supplanted me in her affections I should slay him. Tell
her that I return to my native village to avoid having to kill
her Cornelius.

MRS. S. and GRACE (horror stricken). Kill Cornelius! (Going
R.)

FRED. Yes! I will spare the man she loves--but we must not
meet, or I will not be answerable for my acts.

SEL. Oh! bosh! What are you talking about? Who is this
Cornelius? Cheer up, Fred, and she shall marry _you_--and
not _him_!

MRS. S. and GRACE. Never!

FRED. Too late! I know she prefers my rival! It's all
settled.

SEL. Settled! It's _not_ settled! It _can't_ be settled
without my consent!

MRS. S. (crosses to C.). Consent! You know you have given
that! He said he'd seen you just now and you had blessed him!

SEL. Seen _me_!

GRACE. Yes. Now don't change your mind _again_, pa!

SEL. I shall lose my temper presently. (To FRED.) I say
you _shall_ have her!

GRACE (throwing herself into her mother's arms). Oh, ma,
it's broken off again!

FRED. Thanks for your good intentions. But how can _you_
interfere? _You_ are not her father.

(Exit FRED, L. 2 E. quickly.

SEL. Not her father! What? Here I say! (He rushes after FRED,
who slams his door.)

Enter DIBBS, hurriedly, C.

DIBBS. Sir, sir! (MR. SELWYN sits, L.)

SEL. What is it now?

DIBBS (aside, taking him down, R.). A lady downstairs--says
she must see Mr. Fred Bellamy--her name's Lottie--and she says
she's been deceived----

SEL. Great Goodness! 'Tis she! (Aside to DIBBS.) Hush,
not a word! I'll be there in an instant.

(Exit DIBBS, C.

CAPT. K. (entering, L. U. E.). Me darling!

SEL. (stopping). Who's this familiar fellow?

GRACE. Oh! Corney! Papa's changed his mind _again_, and
withdrawn his consent!

CAPT. K. Would he give you to this Bellamy? (GRACE nods,
"Yes.")

SEL. Is that Captain Katskill?

CAPT. K. Never while I am alive.

SEL. Excuse me, sir----(advancing).

CAP