Page:Box and Cox.djvu/16

Box.

Well, sir—the day fixed for the happy ceremony at length drew near—in fact, too near to be pleasant—so I suddenly discovered that I wasn't worthy to possess her, and I told her so—when, instead of being flattered by the compliment, she flew upon me like a tiger of the female gender—I rejoined—when suddenly something whizzed past me, within an inch of my ear, and shivered into a thousand fragments against the mantel-piece—it was the slop-basin. I retaliated with a tea-cup—we parted, and the next morning I was served with a notice of action for breach of promise.

Cox.	Well, sir?

Box.

Well, sir—ruin stared me in the face—the action proceeded against me with gigantic strides—I took a desperate resolution—I left my home early one morning, with one suit of clothes on my back, and another tied up in a bundle, under my arm—I arrived on the cliffs—opened my bundle—deposited the suit of clothes on the very verge of the precipice—took one look down into the yawning gulph beneath me, and walked off in the opposite direction.

Cox.	Dear me! I think I begin to have some slight perception of your meaning. Ingenious creature! You disappeared—the suit of clothes were found—

Box.	Exactly—and in one of the pockets of the coat, or the waistcoat, or the pantaloons—I forget which—there was also found a piece of paper, with these affecting farewell words: "This is thy work, oh, Penelope Ann!"

Cox.	Penelope Ann! [Starts up, takes Box by the arm, and leads him slowly to front of stage.] Penelope Ann?

Box.	Penelope Ann!

Cox.	Originally widow of William Wiggins?

Box.	Widow of William Wiggins!

Cox.	Proprietor of bathing machines?

Box.	Proprietor of bathing machines!

Cox.	At Margate?

Box.	And Ramsgate!

Cox.	It must be she! And you, sir—you are Box—the lamented, long lost Box!

Box.

I am!

Cox.	And I was about to marry the interesting creature you so cruelly deceived.

Box.	Ha! then you are Cox?

Cox.

I am!