MISS DOBSON.
All entering together.
Bertha.—Are we very late, Miss Dobson?
(Looking round them.)
Dorothea.—Why, there is nobody here!
Fanny.—Where can she be?
Eva.—Perhaps she is late.
B.—Miss Dobson is never late.
F.—What is that letter on the table? Why, it's her writing! It's a letter from Miss Dobson!
F.—With our names written on it!
D.—It must be to say why she has not come.
B.—Quick! Let's open it.
E.—(Snatches at it.) No, no, I'll open it.
D.—Let us all open it together, and read it at the same time.
All.—Capital!
(They all rush at the letter which they tear in two.)
D.—Now, then, what shall we do?
B.—We shall have so much less to read.
E.—Let us see what is on this piece.
All.—(Reading together.) "My dear children, I am obliged to go off to Clapham by the ten o'clock train, to see my mother who is ill."
D.—Go to Clapham!
F.—By the ten o'clock train!
B.—To see her mother who is ill!
E.—Oh, how delightful!
B.—How delightful that her mother should be ill?
E.—No, of course not. I mean, how terrible!
All.—Poor Miss Dobson's mother!
D.—Come, let us see what else she says.
All.—(Reading.) "I shall not be back until the evening."
F.—She won't be back until the evening!
E.—We shall have a holiday then! (All dancing round.) A holiday! A holiday!
D.—Here's the other piece of the letter which we haven't read.
(They pick it up and read it.)
D.—(Reading.) "I hope you will be good children, and work by yourselves."
All.—Work by ourselves!
D.—(Reading.) "You can prepare your German, history, and geography, and do some drawing and practising."
F.—I never heard such a thing.
B.—I do call that a shame!
D.—It's horrid doing one's lessons alone.
E.—But still, it's nice not being scolded when one makes mistakes.
F.—I am quite sure I can't do my geography alone, because I never can find the additional towns on the map.
E.—Besides, Mamma does not like us to bend over the atlas, she says it is bad for the eyes.
D.—As for the drawing, we certainly can't do it, because Miss Dobson has got the key of the cupboard, where the soft pencils are.
B.—And as for the German, I never can find the words in the dictionary.
E.—And I certainly can't practise alone, because I never know where to put my thumb in the scale of F sharp minor.
F.—And I never know where to put my little finger in the scale of B.
D.—Then the only thing we can do alone is the history.
B.—And there will be quite time enough for that this afternoon.
F.—Then, in that case, we have our whole morning free.
B.—Oh, how delightful!
E.—Let's play at hide-and-seek.
F.—You all hide, and I'll come and look for you.
(Hides her face in her hands. The others go towards the door. A bell is heard. They stop.)
F.—(Uncovering her eyes.) A bell!
E.—Who can it be?
(They listen.)
E.—Suppose it were Miss Dobson!
B.—I'll go and see.
(Exit.)
F.—What shall we say if it is Miss Dobson?
D.—That we were going to play at hide-and-seek instead of doing our lessons!
E.—The point is, what will she say!
D.—She'll say a good deal.
Re-enter Bertha.
B.—It is Miss Dobson! Her mother is much better. Her sister sent a telegram, and so she did not go to Clapham after all.
F.—What shall we do?
D.—Let's go and tell her how glad we are she has such good news.
B.—Yes, and let's ask for a holiday to celebrate her mother's recovery.
F.—Excellent! Let's go and meet her.
(They rush out to meet her, calling, "Miss Dobson! Miss Dobson!")
[THE WIGWAM; or, THE LITTLE GIRL FROM TOWN.]
| CHARACTERS. | ||
|---|---|---|
| ELSIE. | MARY. | FANNY. |