Part 27 (1/2)

_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; n.o.body 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!

_Mr. A._ (_with an air of offended dignity_). Oh, bother! You are not expected to support the family.

[_Mrs. A., thinking of that dentist's bill, that shoe bill, and the summer outfit for a family of six, says nothing. Exit Mr. A., who re-enters a moment later._]

_Mr. A._ You--a--haven't fixed my coat, I see.

_Mrs. A._ (_with a guilty start_). I--I forgot it!