Lulu. So I say. Let’s play school.
Bel. But there wouldn’t be enough scholars.
Dan (coming forward with ruler). I’ll be the schoolmaster. Silence! Take your seats. Study your books. Can’t have any recess. You must all stay after school. (Girls laugh. Dan goes back to his flies.)
Lulu. Let’s play mother, I say.
Agnes. You be the mother?
Lulu. No, you be the mother, and I’ll be your little girl, and Bel be my little sister.
Agnes. Well, I’ll run up and get some of my mother’s things to put on, and you two can be seeing my dollies. (Agnes goes out.)
Dan (stepping forward). I’ll be the one to introduce them. (Takes up each doll as it is named.) This is Miss Cherrydrop, named for her red cheeks; but some say they’re painted, and not real. She’s got a new round comb and a—a sontag.
Bel. Oh, that isn’t a sontag! ’tis a breakfast-shawl.
Dan. Well, never mind. Here is Miss Patty Troodledum; very proud, so they say, because her dress is spangled. When Aggy thinks too much of her new clothes, mother says, “Ah! who have we here? Miss Patty Troodledum?” Sit down there, Miss Patty. And this is the young sailor-boy, just home from sea. There’s the star on his collar, and his Scotch cap. Jack, take off your cap, and make a bow to the ladies. His mother fainted away with joy at seeing him, and hasn’t come to yet: here she is. (Takes up old faded shabby doll.) But here is somebody very grand. Now, who do you think came over in the ship with the sailor-boy?