"What means this, Master Johannes?" I hear you say.
"Who has done this thing?" Ladies and gentles all, I answer you
that young Cupid has done this thing. With unerring aim he has
loosed his arrows. With the same happy arrow (taking the MOTHER'S
hand) he has pierced the hearts of this gracious lady and myself,
while yonder gallant gentleman I name no names, but the
perspicacious will perceive whom I mean--is about to link his life
with the charming maiden who stands so modestly by his side. There
is one other noble lady present to whom I have not yet referred--
FIDDLER (holding out her hand to the MOTHER). I think I must go.
Good-bye, and thank you.
MOTHER (taking her hand and patting it). Wait a moment, dear.
TALKER (continuing his speech)--noble lady to whom I have not yet
referred. I will not hide from you the fact that she plays upon the
fiddle with an elegance rarely to be heard. It is the earnest wish
of (swelling his chest) my future wife and myself that she should
take up her abode with us.
FIDDLER. It's very kind of you, but I don't think--
DAUGHTER (coming across). Mother, she's going to stay with us; she
promised.
MOTHER. It's sweet of you to ask her, dear, but I think it would be
much more suitable that she should live with _us_.
SINGER. We should love to have her, and she could come and see
you whenever she liked.
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