Enter ROBERT, L.
ROBERT. (entering.) Please, Mr. Fable, your man says there’s not a lodging to be had in the village.
HOLD. How unfortunate, and every bed here is occupied. (FANNY, who is going in and out with supper things, during this dialogue enters R. with a tray.) Stop! I have it; that sofa will make up into a bed; you shall have that. (FANNY screams and drops the tray.)
FABLE. Capital family! servants drop the supper.
MRS. F. Careless slut, what did you drop the tray for?
FANNY. I tell you what, ma’am, I don’t get no wages of you—you’re only a visitor, and I won’t stand being talked to by you. So if you attempts to blow me up, I’ll give you a bit of my mind, more mayhap than you like.
FABLE. There’s another row! more quietness. Servants so civil—oh, beautiful!
HOLD. Ha, ha, ha! a pretty business; it’s too late to get anything. Well, ladies and gents, I am very sorry—very sorry to send you supperless to bed; but you see all the circumstances—the supper is dropped, so I’ve no other course than to drop the subject.
FABLE. Splendid entertainment!
HOLD. We have nothing to do but to retire for the night, and leave you, Fable, to repose on the sofa bed.