FullReads

MRS. B.–Is this collusion, madam?

MRS. P.–Collusion, dear Mrs. Bonnington!

LADY K.–Or insolence, Mrs. Prior!

MRS. P.–Insolence, your ladyship! What–what is it? what has happened? What’s Julia’s hair down for? Ah! you’ve not sent the poor girl away? the poor, poor child, and the poor, poor children!

TOUCHIT.–That dancing at the “Coburg” has come out, Mrs. Prior.

MRS. P.–Not the darling’s fault. It was to help her poor father in prison. It was I who forced her to do it. Oh! don’t, don’t, dear Lady Kicklebury, take the bread out of the mouths of these poor orphans! [Crying.]

MILLIKEN.–Enough of this, Mrs. Prior: your daughter is not going away. Julia has promised to stay with me–and–never to leave me–as governess no longer, but as wife to me.

MRS. P.–Is it–is it true, Julia?

MISS P.–Yes, mamma.

MRS. P.–Oh! oh! oh! [Flings down her umbrella, kisses JULIA, and running to MILLIKEN,] My son, my son! Come here, children. Come, Adolphus, Amelia, Charlotte–kiss your dear brother, children. What, my dears! How do you do, dears? [to MILLIKEN’S children]. Have they heard the news? And do you know that my daughter is going to be your mamma? There–there–go and play with your little uncles and aunts, that’s good children! [She motions off the Children, who retire towards garden. Her manner changes to one of great patronage and intense satisfaction.] Most hot weather, your ladyship, I’m sure. Mr. Bonnington, you must find it hot weather for preachin’! Lor’! there’s that little wretch beatin’ Adolphus! George, sir! have done, sir! [Runs to separate them.] How ever shall we make those children agree, Julia?

MISS P.–They have been a little spoiled, and I think Mr. Milliken will send George and Arabella to school, mamma: will you not, Horace?

MR. MILLIKEN.–I think school will be the very best thing for them.

MRS. P.–And [Mrs. P. whispers, pointing to her own children] the blue room, the green room, the rooms old Lady Kick has–plenty of room for us, my dear!

MISS P.–No, mamma, I think it will be too large a party,–Mr. Milliken has often said that he would like to go abroad, and I hope that now he will be able to make his tour.

MRS. P.–Oh, then! we can live in the house, you know: what’s the use of payin’ lodgin’, my dear?

MISS P.–The house is going to be painted. You had best live in your own house, mamma; and if you want anything, Horace, Mr. Milliken, I am sure, will make it comfortable for you. He has had too many visitors of late, and will like a more quiet life, I think. Will you not?

MILLIKEN.–I shall like a life with YOU, Julia.

JOHN.–Cab, sir, for her ladyship!

LADY K.–This instant let me go! Call my people. Clarence, your arm! Bulkeley, Pinhorn! Mrs. Bonnington, I wish you good-morning! Arabella, angel! [looks at picture] I leave you. I shall come to you ere long. [Exit, refusing MILLIKEN’s hand, passes up garden, with her servants following her. MARY and other servants of the house are collected together, whom Lady K. waves off. Bluecoat boy on wall eating plums. Page, as she goes, cries, Hurray, hurray! Bluecoat boy cries, Hurray! When Lady K. is gone, JOHN advances.]

JOHN.–I think I heard you say, sir, that it was your intention to go abroad?

MILLIKEN.–Yes; oh, yes! Are we going abroad, my Julia?

MISS P.–To settle matters, to have the house painted, and clear [pointing to children, mother, etc.] Don’t you think it is the best thing that we can do?

MILLIKEN.–Surely, surely: we are going abroad. Howell, you will come with us of course, and with your experiences you will make a capital courier. Won’t Howell make a capital courier, Julia? Good honest fellow, John Howell. Beg your pardon for being so rude to you just now. But my temper is very hot, very.

JOHN [laughing].–You are a Tartar, sir. Such a tyrant! isn’t he, ma’am?

MISS P.–Well, no; I don’t think you have a very bad temper, Mr. Milliken, a–Horace.

JOHN.–You must–take care of him–alone, Miss Prior–Julia–I mean Mrs. Milliken. Man and boy I’ve waited on him this fifteen year: with the exception of that trial at the printing-office, which–which I won’t talk of NOW, madam. I never knew him angry; though many a time I have known him provoked. I never knew him say a hard word, though sometimes perhaps we’ve deserved it. Not often–such a good master as that is pretty sure of getting a good servant–that is, if a man has a heart in his bosom; and these things are found both in and out of livery. Yes, I have been a honest servant to him,–haven’t I, Mr. Milliken?