Duettino.
Girl of Ten. Mamma, please give me my music lesson now, so I can go and skate; and then won't you please make some jelly-cake? And see, my dress is torn, and my slate-frame needs covering.
Girl of Eight. Where are my roller-skates? Where is the strap? Can I have a pickle? Please give me a cent. A girl said her mother wouldn't let her wear darned stockings to school. I'm ashamed of my stockings. You might let me wear my new ones.
[Mrs. A. gives music lesson; mends dress; covers slate-frame; makes jelly-cake and a pudding; goes to nursery and sends nurse down to finish ironing.]
Scene VII. Nursery.
[Mrs. A. with babies on her lap. Enter husband and father with hands full of papers and general air of having finished his day's work.]
Mr. A. Well, how is everything? Children all right, I see. You must have had a nice, quiet day. Written much?
Mrs. A. (faintly). Not very much.
Mr. A. (complacently). Oh, well, you can't force these things. It will be all right in time.
Mrs. A. (in a burst of repressed feeling). We need the money so much, Charles!