Miss B. Mandy, you stupid, lay down the plates and put the teapot to warm.
Mandy (putting teapot on the hearth). Is you goin’ to give old Mandy jess a leetle tea to-day, missy? I knows tea is powerful ’spensive. Why so, missy?
Miss B. Because the Parliament taxes tea. Have you no remembrance of the Boston Tea Party, more than a year agone, when the tea was thrown overboard in Boston Harbor?
Mandy. Yes, missy, I recommembers, an’ lots of lady patriarchs stopped drinkin’ tea den. Missy Abiel Dickinson she drink “Liberty Tea,” an’ I helps her pick de raspberry leaves las’ summer——
(Knocker sounds.)
Miss B. There is the knocker, Mandy. Do you attend the door. (Exit Mandy. She ushers in Mrs. Strong, Mrs. Cowles and Mrs. Adams.) Good-afternoon, Mrs. Strong; good-afternoon, Mrs. Cowles; good-afternoon, Mrs. Adams. I hope I see you all well.
Mrs. S. I am in my usual state of good health, thank you, Miss Boltwood.
Mrs. C. Save for a slight rheum, I am enjoying the blessing of health, thank you.
Mrs. A. Thank you kindly, Miss Boltwood, I am as well as can be expected.
Miss B. Lay aside your cloaks, ladies. Mandy, assist the ladies.