Mrs. A. Let me see! How was it? Oh! “Harold gazed moodily into her calm, sweet face. It was not the expression he would have liked to find there. He would have preferred—” (_Shriek from girl of two._) Oh, dear me! She has shut her darling fingers in the drawer! Come to mamma, precious love, and sit on mamma’s lap, and we’ll sing about little pussy.
Enter nurse with bottle. Curtain falls.
SCENE II. STUDY.
[_Three hours later; infant and Girl of Two asleep; house in order; lunch and dinner arranged; buttons sewed on Girl of Eight’s boots, string on Girl of Ten’s hood, and both dispatched to school, etc. Enter Mrs. A. Draws a long sigh of relief and seats herself at desk. Reads a page of Dickens and a poem or two to attune herself for work. Seizes pen, scribbles erratically a few seconds and begins to write._]
Mrs. A. (_after some moments_). I think that is good. Let us hear how it reads. (_Reads aloud._) “He would have preferred to find more passion in those deep, dark eyes. Had he then no part in the maiden meditations of this fair, innocent girl—he whom proud beauties of society vied with each other to win? He could not guess. A stray breeze laden with violet and hyacinth perfume stole in at the open window, ruffling the soft waves of auburn hair which shaded her alabaster forehead.” It seems to me I have read something similar before, but it is good, anyhow. “Harold could not endure this placid, unruffled calm. His own veins were full of molten lava. With a wild and passionate cry he—”
Enter cook bearing a large, dripping piece of corned beef.
Cook. Please, Miss Anastasy, is dis de kin’ of a piece ye done wanted? I thought I’d save ye de trouble o’ comin’ down.
Mrs. A. (_desperately_). It is!
[_Exit cook, staring wildly._
Mrs. A. (_resuming_). “With a wild, passionate cry, he—”
Re-enter cook.
Cook. Ten cents for de boy what put in de wood, please, ma’am!
[_Mrs. A. gives money; exit cook. Mrs. A., sighing, takes up MS. Clock strikes twelve; soon after the lunch-bell rings._]
Voice of Girl of Ten, calling: Mamma, why don’t you come to lunch?
SCENE III. DINING-ROOM.
Enter Mrs. A.
Girl of Ten. Oh, what a mean lunch! Nothing but bread and ham. I hate bread and ham! All the girls have jelly-cake. Why don’t we have jelly-cake? We used to have jelly-cake.
Mrs. A. You can have some pennies to buy ginger-snaps.
Girl of Ten. I hate ginger-snaps! When are you going to make jelly-cake?
Mrs. A. (_sternly_). When my book is done.
Girl of Ten (_with inexpressible meaning_): Hm!
Curtain falls.
SCENE IV. STUDY.
Enter Mrs. A. Children, still asleep; girls at school; deck again
cleared for action.
Mrs. A. It is one o’clock. If I can be let alone until three I can finish that last chapter.
[_Takes up pen; lays it down; reads a poem of Mrs. Browning to take the taste of ham-sandwiches out of her mouth, then resumes pen, and writes with increasing interest for fifteen minutes. Everything is steeped in quiet. Suddenly a faint murmur of voices is heard; it increases, it approaches, mingled with the tread of many feet, and a rumbling as of mighty chariot-wheels. It is only Barnum’s steam orchestrion, Barnum’s steam chimes, and Barnum’s steam calliope, followed by an array of ruff-scruff. They stop exactly opposite the house. The orchestrion blares, the chimes ring a knell to peace and harmony, the calliope shrieks to heaven. The infants wake and shriek likewise. Exit Mrs. A. Curtain falls._]
SCENE V. STUDY.
Enter Mrs. A. Peace restored; children happy with nurse. Seizes
pen and writes rapidly. Doorbell rings, cook announces caller;
nobody Mrs. A. wants to see, but somebody she MUST see. Exit
Mrs. A. in a state of rigid despair.
SCENE VI. HALL.
[_Visitor gone; Mrs. A. starts for study. Enter Girl of Eight followed by Girl of Ten._]
Duettino.
Girl of Ten. Mamma, please give me my music lesson now, so I can go and skate; and then won’t you please make some jelly-cake? And see, my dress is torn, and my slate-frame needs covering.
Girl of Eight. Where are my roller-skates? Where is the strap? Can I have a pickle? Please give me a cent. A girl said her mother wouldn’t let her wear darned stockings to school. I’m ashamed of my stockings. You might let me wear my new ones.
[_Mrs. A. gives music lesson; mends dress; covers slate-frame; makes jelly-cake and a pudding; goes to nursery and sends nurse down to finish ironing._]
SCENE VII. NURSERY.
[_Mrs. A. with babies on her lap. Enter husband and father with hands full of papers and general air of having finished his day’s work._]
Mr. A. Well, how is everything? Children all right, I see. You must have had a nice, quiet day. Written much?
Mrs. A. (_faintly_). Not very much.
Mr. A. (_complacently_). Oh, well, you can’t force these things. It will be all right in time.
Mrs. A. (_in a burst of repressed feeling_). We need the money so much, Charles!
