ed to my
parents--ask him when--when I am gone.

MILLIKEN.--When you are gone, Julia! Why are you going? Why should you
go, my love--that is--why need you go, in the devil's name?

MISS P.--Because, when your mother--when your mother-in-law come to hear
that your children's governess has been a dancer on the stage, they will
send me away, and you will not have the power to resist them. They ought
to send me away, sir; but I have acted honestly by the children and
their poor mother, and you'll think of me kindly when--I--am--gone?

MILLIKEN.--Julia, my dearest--dear--noble--dar--the devil! here's old
Kicklebury.

Enter Lady K., Children, and CLARENCE.

LADY K.--So, Miss Prior! this is what I hear, is it? A dancer in my
house! a serpent in my bosom--poisoning--yes, poisoning those blessed
children! occasioning quarrels between my own son and my dearest
son-in-law; flirting with the footman! When do you intend to leave,
madam, the house which you have po--poll--luted?

MISS P.--I need no hard language, Lady Kicklebury: and I will reply to
none. I have signified to Mr. Milliken my wish to leave his house.

MILLIKEN.--Not, not, if you will stay. [To Miss P.]

LADY K.--Stay, Horace! she shall NEVER stay as governess in this house!

MILLIKEN.--Julia! will you stay as mistress? You have known me for a
year alone--before, not so well--when the house had a mistress that is
gone. You know what my temper is, and that my tastes are simple, and
my heart not unkind. I have watched you, and have never seen you out
of temper, though you have been tried. I have long thought you good and
beautiful, but I never thought to ask the question which I put to you
now:--come in, sir! [to CLARENCE at door]:--now that you have been
persecuted by those who ought to have upheld you, and insulted by those
who owed you gratitude and respect. I am tired of their domination, and
as weary of a man's cowardly impertinence [to CLARENCE] as of a woman's
jealous tyranny. They have made what was my Arabella's home miserable
by their oppression and their quarrels. Julia! my wife's friend, my
children's friend! be mine, and make me happy! Don't leave me, Julia!
say you won't--say you won't--dearest--dearest girl!

MISS P.--I won't--leave--you.

GEORGE [without].--Oh, I say! Arabella, look here: here's papa a-kissing
Miss Prior!

LADY K.--Horace--Clarence my son! Shade of my Arabella! can you behold
this horrible scene, and not shudder in heaven! Bu