Jane. Good-morning, Mr Bootle!
Bootle. I beg--I thought--Why, of course! It's Miss--er-h'm,
yes--How do you do? Did you get back safely last night?
Jane. Yes, thank you, (Coyly.) I got your letter.
Bootle. My letter? (Sees his letter on the table. Furiously.) You
opened my letter!
Jane (mistaking his fury for passion). Yes--James. And (looking
down on the ground) the answer is "Yes."
Bootle (realizing the situation). By George!
(Aside.) I have proposed to the wrong lady! Tchck!
Jane. You may kiss me, James.
Bootle. Have you a sister?
Jane (missing the connection). Yes, I have a younger sister, Alice.
(Coldly.) But I hardly see--
Bootle (beginning to understand how he made the mistake). A younger
sister! Then you are Miss Prendergast? And my letter--Ah!
Enter Alice.
Alice. You are wanted, Jane, a moment.
Jane. Will you excuse me, Mr Bootle? [Exit.
Bootle (to Alice, as she follows her sister out). Don't go!
Alice (wanly--if she knows how). Am I to stay and congratulate you?
Bootle. Alice! (They approach the footlights, while Jane, having
finished her business, comes in unobserved and watches from the
back.) It is all a mistake! I didn't know your Christian name--I
didn't know you had a sister. The letter I addressed to Miss
Prendergast I meant for Miss Alice Prendergast.
Alice. James! My love! But what can we do?
Bootle (gloomily). Nothing. As a man of honour I cannot withdraw. So
two lives are ruined!
Alice. You are right, James. Jane must never know. Good-bye!
[They give each other a farewell embrace.
Jane (aside). They love. (Fiercely.) But he is mine; I will hold him
to his promise! (Picking up a photograph of Alice as a small child
from an occasional table.) Little Alice! And I promised to take care
of her--to protect her from the cruel world Baby Alice! (She puts
her handkerchief to her eyes.) No! I will not spoil two lives!
(Aloud.) Why "Good-bye," Alice?
[Bootle and Alice, who have been embracing all this time--unless
they can think of something else to do--break away in surprise.