SCENE.—AnApartmentinMELESINDA'SHouse.

scene.—anapartmentinmelesinda'shouse.

melesindasola,asifmusing.

melesindah.h.h.sureitmustbesomethingpreciousbyitsbeingconcealed.itcan'tbehomer,thatisaheathen'sname;norhoratio,thatisnosurname;whatifitbehamlet?thelordhamlet—pretty,andihispoordistractedophelia!no,'tisnoneofthese;'tisharcourtorhargrave,orsomesuchsoundingname,orhoward,highbornhoward,thatwoulddo;maybeitisharley,methinksmyh.resemblesharley,thefeelingharley.butihearhim,andfromhisownlipsiwillonceforeverberesolved.

entermr.h.

mr.h.

mydearmelesinda.

melesindamydearh.thatisallyougivemepowertoswearallegianceto,—tobeenamouredofinarticulatesounds,andcallwithsighsuponanemptyletter.butiwillknow.

mr.h.mydearmelesinda,pressmenomoreforthedisclosureofthat,whichinthefaceofdaysosoonmustberevealed.callitwhim,humour,caprice,inme.supposeihaveswornanoath,never,tilltheceremonyofourmarriageisover,todisclosemytruename.

melesindaoh!h.h.h.icherishhereafireofrestlesscuriositywhichconsumesme.'tisappetite,passion,callitwhim,caprice,inme.supposeihaveswornimustandwillknowitthisverynight.

mr.h.ungenerousmelesinda!iimploreyoutogivemethisoneproofofyourconfidence.theholyvowoncepast,yourh.shallnothaveasecrettowithhold.

melesindamyh.hasovercome:hismelesindashallpineawayanddie,beforeshedareexpressasaucyinclination;butwhatshallicallyoutillwearemarried?

mr.h.callme?callmeanything,callmelove,love!aye,love,lovewilldoverywell.

melesinda

howmanysyllablesisit,love?

mr.h.howmany?ud,thatiscomingtothequestionwithavengeance.one,two,three,four,—whatdoesitsignifyhowmanysyllables?

melesinda

howmanysyllables,love?

mr.h.

mymelesinda'smind,ihadhoped,wassuperiortothischildishcuriosity.

melesinda

howmanylettersarethereinit?

[exitmr.h.followedbymelesindarepeatingthequestion.]