Mary. I’ll wager my new curled waterfall against your ruby pin that Aunt Mattie replies to Mr. “C. G.” before to-morrow night.
Jack. Done! I shall wear a curled waterfall after to-morrow.
Mary. No, sir! But I shall wear a ruby pin. Jack, who do you think “C. G.” is?
Jack. Really, I do not know; do you? Ah! I know you do, by that look in your eyes. Tell me, that’s a darling.
Mary. Not I. I don’t expose secrets to a fellow who tells them all over town. Besides, it would spoil the fun.
Jack. Mary, you are the dearest little sister in the world! Tell me, please. (taking her hands.)
Mary. No, sir! You don’t get that out of me. Take care, now. Let go of my hands. I’m going up stairs to keep an eye on Aunt Mattie. She’s gone up now to write an answer to “C. G.” And if there is any fun by-and-by, Jack, if you’re a good boy you shall be there to see.
Granny C. To sea? Going to sea? Why, Jack Cole! you haint twenty-one yet, and the sea’s a dreadful place! There’s a sarpint lives in it as big as the Scrubtown meeting-’us’, and whales that swaller folks alive, clothes and all! I read about one in a book a great while ago that swallered a man of the name of Jonah, and he didn’t set well on the critter’s stummuck, and up he come, lively as ever!
(Curtain falls.)
Scene II.—The garden of a deserted house, in the vicinity of Mr. Cole’s. Mary leading Jack cautiously along a shady path.