GEORGIANA.
I must say you try to make everybody feel at home.
[_HANNAH curtseys._
SIR TRISTRAM.
It"s beautifully Arcadian.
GEORGIANA.
[_To HANNAH._] Perhaps this is only a police-station for the young?
HANNAH.
No, ma"am, we take ladies and gentlemen like yourselves.
NOAH.
[_Who has not been noticed, surveying GEORGIANA and SIR TRISTRAM, gloomily._] "Annah, hintrodooce me.
GEORGIANA.
[_Facing NOAH._] Good gracious! What"s that! Oh, good-morning.
NOAH.
"Annah"s a gettin" me a lot o" nice noo friends this week since we coom to St. Marvells.
HANNAH.
Noah, Noah--the lady and gentlemen is strange.
NOAH.
Ho!
GEORGIANA.
Are you the man in charge here?
NOAH.
Ay; are you seeing me on business or pleasure?
SIR TRISTRAM.
Do you imagine people come here to see you?
NOAH.
Noa--they generally coom to see my wife. "Owever, if it"s business [_pointing to the other side of the room_] that"s the hofficial side--this is domestic. You"ll hall kindly move over.
SIR TRISTRAM _and_ GEORGIANA.
Oh, certainly.
[_Changing their seats._
SIR TRISTRAM.
Now, look here, my man. This lady is Mrs. Tidman. Mrs. Tidman is the sister of Dr. Jedd, the Dean of St. Marvells.
HANNAH.
[_With a gasp._] Oh!
GEORGIANA.
There"s something wrong with your wife.
NOAH.
Ay. She"s profligate--proceedins are pendin"!
GEORGIANA.
[_To SIR TRISTRAM._] Strange police station! My flesh creeps.
SIR TRISTRAM.
[_To NOAH._] Well, my good man, to come to the point. My poor friend and this lady"s brother, Dr. Jedd, the Dean, you know--has mysteriously and unaccountably disappeared.
GEORGIANA.
Vanished.
SIR TRISTRAM.
Gone.
NOAH.
Absconded.
GEORGIANA.
Absconded! How dare you.