EGLANTINE. No, no, no, no, no! I'll die an old maid first! I'll kill
myself if I can't marry the man I love. (_Exit, weeping._)
CODDLE. (_Solus._) The image of her mother! The villain has bewitched
her! And to think I've asked him to dinner! A scamp I don't know, and
never heard of, and who came into my house like a murderer, smashing
all my hot-houses! Confound him, I'll insult him till he can't see
out of his eyes! I'll dine him with a vengeance! And I'll hand him
over to the police afterwards for malicious mischief--the horrid deaf
ruffian! The audacity of daring to demand my daughter's hand! Deaf as
he is! (_Bell heard._) Ha! what's that infernal noise? A fire? (_Opens
window._) Bah! Jane ringing the dinner-bell. Stop, stop, stop that
devilish tocsin! (_Looks down into garden._) There sits the miscreant,
reading a paper, and hearing nothing of a bell loud enough to wake the
dead. Detestable blockhead! There goes Jane to call him. Faithful Jane!
I long to witness the joy which irradiates her face, dear soul, when I
tell her I can hear. She loves me _so_ sincerely! (_Calls._) Jane!--A
servant of an extinct species. None like her nowadays. Jane, Jane!
(_Enter JANE with soup-tureen._) I've news for you, my faithful Jane.
JANE. Oh, shut up!