B. I’m sure I don’t see any harm in drawing her out. It will be so amusing. I will invite her to go shopping with me to-morrow, just to see how she will stare in the windows. There will be a slight contrast between our large and fashionable stores and the one little variety store in her native village, where they sell everything from a peck of potatoes to a silk dress.
Mrs. A. I should be too much mortified to do so. But she may have arrived already. Let us go down and see.
(Exeunt.)
E. (astonished and amused). Is it possible that my aunt and cousin expect to find me so countrified? It would be cruel in me to disappoint their expectations. I have always been considered quite good at imitation, and I have a great mind to personate, for a little while, the character of a backwood’s maiden—for my amusement as well us theirs. I must practise a little, first, in order to carry it out well. (Goes to mirror and makes a low courtesy.) Why, haow d’ye do, Aunt Tildy? I’m proper glad to see ye. And haow d’ye do, Blanche? I’m dreadful tickled to meet ye. (Turns round smiling.) I wonder how it would do to give her what Charlie calls a “Down East hug.” They would be fairly horrified, I think. But I will be governed by circumstances, and go down to meet them without further delay.
(Goes out, R. Curtain falls.)
Scene III.—Mrs A.’s drawing-room. Eunice enters, R.
E. (looking round). What! are they not here yet? I supposed they were coming directly downstairs. However, I will sit down and await their coming. Ah! there they are now.
(Mrs. A. and Blanche enter, L.)
Mrs. A. (coming forward). I didn’t know you had arrived, Eunice. I have just returned from—
E. (interrupting her by advancing and throwing her arms around her neck). Why, haow d’ye do, Aunt Tildy? I’m proper glad to see ye. (Mrs. A. withdraws from the embrace with a disgusted expression of countenance, and smooths down her collar, which was disarranged by it. E. advances to Blanche, who, fearing a like salutation, takes a step backward, and holds out the tips of her fingers to her cousin. E. grasps them vigorously, and, stepping forward, bestows a loud kiss upon her cousin’s cheek. Blanche, with a slight frown, takes her handkerchief and wipes it off.) How d’ye do, Cousin Blanche? I’m dreadful tickled to meet ye.