ERMYNTRUDE. A lady's maid has to be, Your Highness. [She produces
some letters.] Your Highness wishes to see my testimonials, no
doubt. I have one from an Archdeacon. [She proffers the letters.]

THE PRINCESS [taking them]. Do archdeacons have maids? How
curious!

ERMYNTRUDE. No, Your Highness. They have daughters. I have
first-rate testimonials from the Archdeacon and from his
daughter.

THE PRINCESS [reading them]. The daughter says you are in every
respect a treasure. The Archdeacon says he would have kept you if
he could possibly have afforded it. Most satisfactory, I'm sure.

ERMYNTRUDE. May I regard myself as engaged then, Your Highness?

THE PRINCESS [alarmed]. Oh, I'm sure I don't know. If you like,
of course; but do you think I ought to?

ERMYNTRUDE. Naturally I think Your Highness ought to, most
decidedly.

THE PRINCESS. Oh well, if you think that, I daresay you're quite
right. You'll excuse my mentioning it, I hope; but what wages--
er--?

ERMYNTRUDE. The same as the maid who went to the ball. Your
Highness need not make any change.