MRS. S. And this for me! Oh, how kind of you, Cousin; but pray mind how you get down!
POS. Don’t be alarmed; it’s a precious deal easier than getting up! besides I know every inch of the road; so good bye, cousin, and in my way to my friend the superintendent, I’ll knock up all the neighbours and tell them to scour the country; we’ll find your fifteen thousand pounds again for you. (gets quite out and gradually disappears) So don’t give way—keep up as I do. Oh, lud. (suddenly disappears altogether—loud noise of broken glass heard)
MRS. S. He’s fallen! (calling out of window) Cousin! cousin!
POS. (from without) It’s all right. I’ve only tumbled into a cucumber frame or something of the sort. I can have the bits of glass taken out of me when I get back.
MRS. S. (looking out) There he runs, but he’s without his hat! (calling aloud) Cousin! cousin! you’ve dropped your hat! he doesn’t hear me.
PEGGY. (without at door, L. C.) Missus—missus, the door’s locked. (unlocks door and runs in followed by DAVID, both have their night-caps on, and DAVID carries an old fashioned blunderbuss) Oh, ma’am, what’s all this noise about—what does it all mean?
DAVID. Ees, what do it all mean?
MRS. S. It means, my poor Peggy, that I have been robbed.
PEGGY. Robbed, but not murdered, I hope.
MRS. S. (smiling) No, not quite, though I am almost dead with alarm! David, have you seen no one?