THE WIGWAM; OR, THE LITTLE GIRL FROM TOWN.
Elsie.—Isn't it delightful that Fanny is coming from London to spend the day with us.
Mary.—Indeed it is. We must show her everything as soon as she comes.
E.—Yes, directly—and the first thing must be the wigwam.
M.—Of course it must, and we will tell her all about it, and that it is our own hut in the garden that we have arranged ourselves.
E.—Or shall we make her guess who made it?
M.—Oh yes! That would be lovely! We will take her there, and tell her to shut her eyes quite tight.
E.—Then she won't be able to see the wigwam.
M.—No, that's true. Then she must have them shut all the way through the garden.
E.—And when she gets there, we will say: "Open your eyes, and guess whose wigwam this is".
M.—And, when she has guessed that, we will say: "Now guess who painted it".
E.—And, when she has guessed that, we will say: "Now guess who furnished it".
M.—And, when she has guessed that, we'll say: "Guess who papered it".
E.—She'll be rather stupid if she does not guess that time whose it is.
M.—But, you know, little girls from London are very often stupid, when they come into the country.
E.—That's true. Do you remember when Amy came, she did not know the difference between a goose and a duck?
M.—And she was afraid of the turkey-cock!
E.—And she looked at an oak, and said how very small the chestnuts were!
M.—There's the door-bell. There they are! Now, mind, I am the eldest, so I shall say: "Now, I am going to show you the wigwam" as soon as she comes in.
E.—Before we shake hands?
M.—No! no! After we shake hands.
E.—I think I ought to say it too, you know.
M.—It would be absurd both saying it together, she won't understand.
E.—Oh, yes! she will, if we say it loud and slowly, like this, now then you say it with me (both together): We-are-going-to-show-you-the-wigwam!!
M.—Capital! There she is!
Enter Fanny.
E. and M.—(Running round her.) How do you do? How do you do?
(Fanny smoothes her dress which they have crumpled. Elsie and Mary look at each other.)
E. and M.—(Together.) We are going to show you the wigwam. (Very loud and distinctly.)
(Fanny puts her hands over her ears.)
F.—Oh, how loudly you talk! One at a time, if you please. It makes me ill when you shout like that.
E.—We said we were going to show you the wigwam.
F.—What's that? I hate insects.
M.—It isn't an insect! it's a hut in the garden.
F.—That's not so bad. Dear me! how tired I am. (Looks round for a chair.)
E.—(Giving her a chair.) What has tired you so much?
F.—Why, we walked all the way from the station.
M.—The station! Why, it's barely five minutes from here.
F.—I don't care how long it is, it tired me all the same.
E.—We'll go to the wigwam when you are rested.
F.—How far is it?
M.—Just across the garden, on the other side of the lawn.
F.—If I walk across the grass I shall get my feet wet.
E.—Then we'll go by the gravel walk, it's only a few seconds longer.
F.—If I walk on the gravel I shall spoil my kid boots.
M.—You ought to have strong boots like ours for the country.
F.—I can't bear those clumsy boots!
E.—Then how are you going to get to the wigwam?
F.—Why should we go there at all?
M.—Because we wanted to show it to you.
F.—Why?
M.—We want you to guess who furnished it.
F.—The carpenter, I suppose, or the upholsterer, or whoever does those things.
M.—No, we did it.
F.—You!
M.—We papered and painted it all ourselves.
F.—Oh how disgusting!
E.—Disgusting! it was delightful. We did it with paste and with Aspinall.
M.—I love Aspinall.
F.—I don't. I hate having paint on my fingers.
E.—And the paste is quite clean—it's only flour and water.
F.—Flour and water! Ugh! I can't bear things that make one's fingers sticky.
E.—After all, it is very easy to wash off.
F.—I don't like to wash my hands too often, it spoils my skin.
E.—Besides, of course, you need not touch either the paste or the paint.
F.—What shall I do then?
E.—You shall sit down and look round you.
F.—Sit on what?
E.—On an old packing-case covered with chintz! You have no idea what a comfortable seat it makes.
F.—A packing-case! I am sure there would be nails in it that would catch on my dress. I would rather sit in the house on a proper chair.
E.—But you surely don't want to stay in all day, when the sun is shining like this?
F.—That's just it, I don't like to sit in the sun. I shall get freckled.
M.—Do you like to be out in the damp, then?
F.—Oh no, indeed! It takes the curl out of my hair.
M.—What shall we do, then? It's so dull sitting in here.
F.—Very! but I knew before I came it would be dull.
M.—(Aside.) Isn't she rude!
E.—(Aside.) Hush! (To Fanny.) I'll tell you what we will do. We'll go into the poultry-yard, it is shady there.
F.—Well, what is there to see in the poultry-yard?
E.—Oh, all sorts of things. We can look for eggs and bring in some for breakfast.
F.—I think the servants ought to do that.
M.—Or we can feed the hens.
F.—I wouldn't for worlds! I hate things that come flapping and pecking round my feet.
M.—Then let's go into the stable and we will show you our ponies.
F.—Oh, no! Stables are so smelly, I can't bear them.
E.—Well, is there anything you would like to do? What do you do in London?
F.—I like driving through the streets in an open carriage and looking at the shops.
M.—In that case, you had better have remained in London, as there are no streets here and no shops.
F.—Very well! I shall go and tell my mother that I want to go back.
M.—You had better! (Exit Fanny r.) Come, Elsie, let us go to the wigwam.
(They go out L.)
[FOOLISH JACK.]
| CHARACTERS. | |
|---|---|
| JACK. | HIS MOTHER. |