ke a 'skeeter net, only it 'ain't long enough
for a feller to lay down in unless he was to coil himself up like a
woodchuck in a knot hole. I'd just like to know what the all-fired thing
is meant for. [Calls.] Say Puffy, Puffy, Oh! he told me if I wanted him
to ring the bell. [Looks round room.] Where on airth is the bell? [Slips
partly inside shower bath, pulls rope, water comes down.] Murder! help!
fire! Water! I'm drown.

Enter Skillet, Sharpe, R. 1 E. Binny, Buddicombe, L. 1 E., seeing Asa,
all laugh, and keep it up till curtain falls.

CURTAIN.

ACT II

Scene 1.--Oriel Chamber in one.

Enter Mrs. Mountchessington and Augusta, L. 1 E., dressed for Archery
Meeting.

Mrs M No, my dear Augusta, you must be very careful. I don't by any
means want you to give up De Boots, his expectations are excellent, but,
pray be attentive to this American savage, as I rather think he will
prove the better match of the two, if what I hear of Mark Trenchard's
property be correct.

Aug [Disdainfully.] Yes, ma.

Mrs M And look more cheerful, my love.

Aug I am so tired, ma, of admiring things I hate.

Mrs. M Yes, my poor love, yet we must all make sacrifices to society.
Look at your poor sister, with the appetite.

Aug What am I to be enthusiastic about with that American, Ma?

Mrs M Oh! I hardly know yet, my dear. We must study him. I think if
you read up Sam Slick a little, it might be useful, and just dip into
Bancroft's History of the United States, or some of Russell's Letters;
you should know something of George Washington, of whom the Americans
are justly proud.

Aug Here he comes, ma. What a ridiculous figure he looks in that dress,
ha! ha!

Mrs M Hush, my dear!

Enter Asa, in Archery Dress.

Aug Oh, Mr. Trenchard, why did you not bring me one of those lovely
Indian's dresses of your boundless prairie?

Mrs M Yes, one of those dresses in which you hunt the buffalo.

Aug [Extravagantly.] Yes, in which you hunt the buffalo.

Asa [Imitating.] In which I hunt the buffalo. [Aside.] Buffaloes down in
Vermont. [Aloud.] Wal, you see, them dresses are principally the nateral
skin, tipped off with paint, and the indians object to parting with
them.

Both Ahem! ahem!

Asa The first buffalo I see about here I shall hunt up for you.

Mrs M Oh, you Americans are so clever, and so acute.

Aug Yes, so 'cute.

Asa Yes, we're 'cute, we are; know soft solder when we see it.

Aug [Aside.] Ma, I