Frank sat with his party between the play and farce.
When White and Glendenning left the box he felt relieved,
for their admiration of Fanny had been so apparent as to
inspire the susceptible young lover with some not very placid
sensations. His gratification, however, was of short
duration, for, after the lapse of fifteen or twenty minutes,
which he had spent talking to his mother, the two officers
both returned. Thinking, perhaps, that the sight of a gentleman
conversing with the object of their rude attention
might either abash or intimidate them, he moved nearer and
addressed her.

“I've been looking at you, Miss Elton, from the pit,” said
he, “and considering what a fool you must think me.”

“To be sure I do!” said she, smiling, and extending her
hand; “but we are friends for all that.”

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“I really don't quite know!” said Frank.

“You're a spoiled child,” said she, “and I shall tell your
mamma of you.”

“A child? my mamma? I am no child, Miss Elton.
Do you know I'm twenty in less than a month?”

“No! What a venerable old fellow you are. Is that
your own hair? Why, my poor child, I'm old enough to
be your grandmother! How do you like the opera?”

“Not much. It's very good. I haven't heard a note of it.”

“Lucid being! your ideas are so clear!”

“And you have the cruelty to laugh at me? You!”

“I must answer you in your father's style. `Hold your
tongue, sir!' How dare you have the impertinence to address
me in that way?”

He was going to reply, when the younger English officer
leaned deliberately forward, and took the rose from Miss
Elton's bosom.

For a single moment amazement and incredulity kept
Frank motionless, till he saw the two strangers rise as if
about to leave the box, when, with a deep exclamation of
fury, and his large eyes flashing sparkles of fire, he leaped
upon the aggressor, and struck him a fearful blow in his
face. There was a shriek of horror, a shout of wrath, and
Frank and his foe were linked together in a deadly hug.
The audience rose en masse, supposing the house on fire,
or that some part of the building had given way. The
truth, however, became immediately apparent, when a vociferous
burst of voices rose from all quarters, with “Hustle
'em out! Turn 'em out!”

But the combatants were already in the lobby, which was
close thronged to suffocation. The terrified family of Frank
shrieked after him in vain. They could not even get a
sight of him.