hapter.

[_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!

_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.,