Nursery Comedies. Bell Florence Eveleen Eleanore Olliffe

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      Mrs. S. – You have no idea what quaint things she says sometimes. You must get me to tell you some of them next time we meet.

      Mrs. R. – Oh, thank you! Then you think we shall be able to get the hall?

      P. – (Goes up to Mrs. Roberts and pulls her cloak.) Why do you wear this ugly cloak?

      Mrs. S. – Oh, really, Petsy! I don't know what Mrs. Roberts will think! Such a pretty cloak, too.

      P. – No, it isn't. It's hideous, and so is her bonnet. It's like Miss Jane's cloak in the poem.

      Mrs. R. – In the poem?

      Mrs. S. – Yes, that's a little poem she has learnt. You can't think what a memory she has for that kind of thing. I should like you to hear her recite it. You can't think how prettily she does it.

      Mrs. R. – Does she, indeed.

      Mrs. S. – Petsy, will you say your poetry to Mrs. Roberts?

      P. – No, I shan't.

      Mrs. S. – Oh, now do! Mrs. Roberts would like it so much, wouldn't you?

      Mrs. R. – Oh, of all things.

      Mrs. S. – She stands on a chair and says it. You can't think how pretty it looks. Come now, Petsy, won't you?

      Mrs. R. – Well, never mind – don't worry her about it now.

      Mrs. S. – Oh, but I should so like you to hear her. Come, Petsy, you needn't stand on a chair – stand there with your hands behind you. Now begin: "Pretty Miss Jane – "

      P. – I won't, then! (Gives her mother a thump.) There!

      Mrs. S. – She's so unexpected, isn't she? (To Petsy.) If you won't say the poem to Mrs. Roberts, you will play the violin to her, won't you?

      Mrs. R. – (Horrified.) The violin!

      Mrs. S. – Yes, she does show such talent! You'll be quite surprised.

      Mrs. R. – (Aside.) Yes, I shall be quite surprised if she does.

      Mrs. S. – Of course, it's a little squeaky at times – but, after all, she's such a child, it's a wonder she plays at all.

      Mrs. R. – It is indeed. (Aside.) Especially to visitors who don't want to hear her. (Aloud.) I am sorry I can't stay to-day, I just came to see about that hall.

      Mrs. S. – Ah, to be sure, the hall, yes – we've settled nothing. Do stay and have tea with us.

      Mrs. R. – Tea… I am afraid it is rather late.

      Mrs. S. – Oh, do stay, we shall be so snug, just we three – for Petsy always comes in. There she sits in her high chair, and keeps me alive with her prattle.

      Mrs. R. – (Aside.) Ah, that quite decides me. (Aloud.) I am afraid I can hardly do that to-day. I have an appointment at five. (Looking at watch.)

      P. – Ma! (Twitching Mrs. S.'s gown.) May I have butter as well as jam on my toast?

      Mrs. S. – Oh, oh! my dear child! Really! (she knows her own mind, I assure you!)

      Mrs. R. – (Aside.) So it appears. (Aloud.) I am afraid I can't stay longer to-day. Good-bye.

      Mrs. S. – Good-bye. I'm so sorry you can't stay to tea.

      P. – I'm so glad!

      Mrs. S. – Oh! Oh! really, dear Petsy. She likes being alone with her mother, that is the fact.

      Mrs. R. – No doubt. Then you will let me know about the bazaar, won't you?

      Mrs. S. – Oh, of course, I will, and then you must come here that we may have a good talk and settle everything – and we will persuade Petsy to sing her song, and dance her dance! she dances like a fairy, I assure you.

      Mrs. R. – I have no doubt of it. Good-bye.

      Mrs. S. – Good-bye.

      P. – Good-bye, old Mother Roberts, good-bye!

      Mrs. S. – (Playfully.) Oh, Petsy, little Petsy!

      RATHER A PRIG

      CHARACTERS

      ELEANOR.

      WALTER.

      RATHER A PRIG

      Eleanor. – (Calling outside.) Walter! Walter! (Running in.) Here you are, at last! Do come and play in the garden!

      Walter. – (Who is walking about with a book.) Certainly not! Don't you see I am deep in study?

      E. – But it's play-time.

      W. – I dislike play-time.

      E. – What a dull creature! Do you mean to say that you never play?

      W. – As seldom as possible.

      E. – What a pity! I have just got some new reins, and I wanted to play at horses. I do love being a horse.

      W. – That is a natural preference. The horse has ever been a favoured companion of man. It is even on record that the Roman Emperor, Caligula —

      E. – I will not talk about Roman Emperors during play-time. Come along, I will drag the cart and you shall drive standing up, if you like, as they do at the circus.

      W. – That is a custom which dates from the most remote antiquity. Pictorial representations of standing charioteers are found on the Assyrian friezes and the Egyptian tombs —

      E. – (Stopping her ears.) I will not talk about the Egyptians during play-time. Come, will you drive the cart?

      W. – Certainly not.

      E. – Then shall we skip? Look, I have a new skipping-rope, which my father gave me last week.

      W. – The hemp from which that rope was made was doubtless derived from the flax grown in the province of Ulster, in Ireland, especially in the county of Antrim, of which the principal towns are Belfast, Lisbon, and Carrickfergus.

      E. – Oh, bother the county of Antrim and the province of Ulster! I don't care to know where the skipping-rope grew. I want to skip with it.

      W. – That is quite a savage instinct; the remarkable agility of the South Sea Islanders —

      E. – I won't talk of the South Sea Islanders during play-time. You won't skip, then?

      W. – Certainly СКАЧАТЬ