SCENE
MRS. LOCKET'S Drawing Room. Small table L. with workbox, etc., on it. R.C. armchair L. of table. L.C. higher chair. Mrs. Locket on armchair, sewing; Lucy on higher chair, swinging her legs.
Mrs. L. Oh dear, I never thought I should have such a careless child.
Lucy. Why didn't you think so, mother?
Mrs. L. Because I was so very tidy myself when I was a little girl—just like your Cousin Kitty. Oh, why are you not like her!
Lucy. I do think Kitty is so boring.
Mrs. L. My dear child! How wrong to say such a thing of your cousin.
Lucy. But, mother, you always say I'm to tell the truth. So as she is boring, I must say so.
Mrs. L. It's wrong to be bored by people who are good. Kitty is so tidy, so careful about everything: so unlike you. You're so heedless I can't even send you to the village shop for me.
Lucy. Oh, mother do let me go to the shop for you. I'm sure I could.
Mrs. L. I do want two pennorth of pepper, but I can't trust you to get it. I'm sure you would lose the pennies.
Lucy. No, no. I would hold them tightly in my hand. You see, I haven't a pocket in this frock. That's one reason why I lose things.
Mrs. L. That is true, and I have made you a nice little pocket to tie on, in hopes it will make you more careful.
Lucy. Oh, mother, what a darling pocket, and what a pretty binding!
Mrs. L. Yes, I've just sewn it on.
[Lucy ties it on round her waist.
Lucy. Do give me the two pennies, and I'll put them into the pocket.
Mrs. L. Take care that bow doesn't slip. You've tied it very loosely. Oh, here is your cousin Kitty.
Enter Kitty
Kitty. Good morning, Aunt Jane.
Mrs. L. Good morning, my child, and how is my good little girl this morning?
Kitty. Very well, thank you, aunt, and I feel very happy, too.
Lucy. So do I.
[Looking proudly at her pocket.
Kitty. Ah, but not for the same reason, I fear. I feel happy because I am so very good. I'm so tidy and careful, and I never forget anything.
Lucy. How dull that must be!
Mrs. L. Oh, my dear Lucy. Don't say that! Ask Kitty to tell you how she does it, while I go and write my letters.
[Goes out.
Lucy. No, don't tell me anything about it, Kitty. Look at my new pocket.
Kitty. I hope you won't lose it. I never lose anything.
Lucy. Oh, then, you do miss a lot of excitement! When I'm going out I have to rush about looking for my things, and it is so thrilling when I see my shoe far back under the bed, or my handkerchief in the coal-scuttle.
Kitty. Oh, Lucy, how much better it would be if your shoes were tidily side by side! You shock me. I always put my things where they ought to be, and then I find them again at once.
Lucy. Well, I wish you wouldn't, then, and put it into my mother's head. She's always wanting me to do the same.
Kitty. You must try, Lucy. Try as hard as you can, and perhaps some day you will grow up like me.
Lucy. I hope I shan't.
[Makes a face at her.
Kitty. Oh, how distressing! I never make a face.
Lucy. Now I'm going out to shop for mother.
[Jumps round room and goes out.
Kitty [looking after her]. Oh, poor girl, how I pity her! What is that I see on the ground over there? [Goes out and brings in Lucy's pocket.] Why, I believe this is Lucy's pocket! Dear, dear, how careless of her! What a good thing I was there ready to pick it up. [Feels in bag.] Nothing in it. Ha! there's something. No, it's only the binding round it. Dear, dear, she has lost the money too! I must go and find my aunt and take it to her.
[Enter Mrs. L., Kitty ostentatiously holding bag so that Mrs. L. may see it.
Mrs. L. What's that you have, Kitty?
Kitty [holding it up]. It's Lucy's pocket.
Mrs. L. What! Lucy's pocket, that I made her this morning? What are you doing with it, Kitty?
Kitty. I'm sorry to say, Aunt Jane, that Lucy dropped it, and as I happened to be looking round me to see if I could be useful in any way I saw it and picked it up.
Mrs. L. And what about the pence that were in it?
Kitty. They are not there. I'm very sorry, as I know people ought to be so careful of money. I always am.
[Loud boo-hooing heard outside. Enter Lucy.
Lucy. I've lost my pocket! I've lost my pocket!
Mrs. L. Oh, you careless girl! you may well cry. Luckily for you, Kitty Fisher found it.
Lucy. Oh, Kitty, did you? Oh, I am so glad. Give it to me quickly!
Kitty [holding it back]. Don't you think, Aunt Jane, I had better have it? I am so careful of my things.
Lucy [angry]. No, you shan't. You shan't have my nice pocket.
[Goes to her and drags it away. They fight.
Mrs. L. You are not to fight. That is very wrong.
Kitty. Very wrong. I forgot myself, I am afraid.
Mrs. L. Where are the pence you had in the pocket, Lucy?
[Lucy boo-hoos again.
Lucy. Oh, mother, it must have come untied when I jumped about. I'm so dreadfully sorry. I shall never be happy again.
Kitty. No, of course you can't feel happy as I do.
Lucy. Mother, do let me try once more; I really will be good.
Mrs. L. Are you sure, Lucy? Will you really try?
Lucy. Yes, yes, I promise. I'll be like a little girl in a book, who changes all of a sudden, and never does it again.
Mrs. L. Very well, then, I'll trust you with it once more.
Kitty. I'm a little surprised at you, aunt.
Lucy. And you'll never tell me I'm to be as good as Kitty?
Mrs. L. No, because you will be just as good without my telling you.
Kitty. Good-bye then, aunt, I don't care to stay here if I'm of no use in setting an example to Lucy.
Lucy. I can do without your example, thank you.
Kitty. We shall see. But next time Lucy Locket loses her pocket Kitty Fisher will not find it.
[They all sing "Lucy Locket," the curtain coming down on the last line.
