Part 22
BETTY. [_Disengaging her hand._] What? Darest thou?
CHARLES. A lively mummy now thou art come to, whilst I [_sighs_]--I waited through the ages!
BETTY. [_Laughingly._] A veritable monument of patient grief.
CHARLES. And Adonijah----
BETTY. Yea, verily, old Father Time but come to life. [_Mimics._] Thy waiting may avail thee naught.
CHARLES. In truth, it may avail me naught; thy father may be back at any time, while I have much to say, sweet Betty----
BETTY. [_Interrupting._] Nay, sweet Betty call me not.
CHARLES. Dear Betty, then, the dearest----
BETTY. [_Quickly._] Yea, call me dearest mummy, Hottentot, or what you will, just so it be not _sweet_, like Adonijah. It sickens me beyond expressing.
CHARLES. Then, _sweet_ Betty thou art _not_, say rather sour Betty, cross Betty, mean Betty, bad Betty, mad Betty, sad Betty.
BETTY. [_Suddenly dimpling._] Nay, glad Betty!
CHARLES. Art then so glad? Wilt tell me why? In sooth, I know not whither to be glad, or sad, or mad. Sometimes I am but one, sometimes I am all three.
BETTY. Wilt tell me why?
CHARLES. [_Stepping closer and imprisoning her left hand._] Thou wilt not now escape it, for I will tell thee why, and mayhap this will aid me. [_Slips ring, which he has had concealed in his pocket, on her finger._] Hath this no meaning for thee?
BETTY. [_Her eyes sparkling with mischief._] Aye, 'tis a diabolical circle for the devil to daunce in!
CHARLES. [_In astonishment._] A what?
BETTY. [_Slowly._] A diabolical circle for the devil to daunce in--so father saith. Likewise Adonijah.
CHARLES. [_Weakly endeavoring to comprehend._] A diabolical circle--but what!--say it again, Betty.
BETTY. [_Repeats slowly, emphasizing it with pointed finger._] A diabolical circle for the devil to daunce in.
CHARLES. [_Throws back his head and laughs._] May I be the devil!
BETTY. [_Shaking her finger at him._] Then daunce!
[_They take position, as though for a minuet. The knocker sounds._ BETTY _runs to the window_.
BETTY. Aye, there's ADONIJAH at the knocker. Into the clock--hie thee--quick, quick!
CHARLES. [_Reproachfully.