urtain 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 c