Mr. B. (significantly). I had a leap-year vision last evening, and have concluded, this morning, to make it a reality.
(Curtain falls.)
HIGH LIFE BELOW STAIRS.
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
| Miss Evelyn Montague, | A lady of Wealth. | |
| Katy Maguire, | ⎫ | Her Servants. |
| Ann Flaherty, | ⎪ | |
| Bridget Maglone, | ⎬ | |
| Mary Finnegan, | ⎪ | |
| James Dunn, | ⎪ | |
| Pat. Garvey, | ⎭ | |
| Ellen Sweeny, | ⎫ | Servants of Mrs. Bradley. |
| Julia Griffin, | ⎬ | |
| Corny Reilly, | ⎭ |
Scene I.—Miss Evelyn’s chamber. Katy Maguire, R., dressed in blue silk, standing before a mirror. She is putting on a lace collar.
Katy. It is my private opinion that this blue dress is the purtiest of the lot, an’ as long as Miss Evelyn won’t wear it, there’s no reason why Katy Maguire shouldn’t. It won’t be long before it’ll be out of fashion; an’ it might as well be doin’ a little good to somebody, first.
(She takes out from jewel-case several sets of jewelry, and fastens them in conspicuous places on the waist of the dress. She puts all the bracelets she can find on her wrists, and places around her neck a gold chain, and also a string of cornelian beads. Taking a richly-embroidered handkerchief in her hand, she gazes complacently at herself in the mirror.)
K. There, Katy Maguire (courtesying to the image reflected), you look like a lady born and bred. If your mistress should see you now, she wouldn’t need to ask if you was an experienced dressing-maid. There aint many that shows such fine taste in dressin’, or has enough jewelry to set off the dress with. What an ilegant trail it has, sure! (glancing complacently back at the dress, and taking two or three steps forward to see the effect. Enter Mary, R.)
Mary (starting back in surprise). Well, Katy, who ever’d ha’ thought of this being you? What are you rigged up in Miss Evelyn’s finery for?