F.—I think it would do you a great deal of good.
M.—Oh, fie! How can you be so cruel with the darling child!
F.—We'll wait and see how much work he can do, and if he doesn't succeed, Jack will have to go.
M.—Ah, Jack, it is a great pity you're too stupid to make yourself useful, or else you might have gone, and saved your dear brother the trouble.
J.—I could do it quite well.
M.—No, you wouldn't, you are a great deal too stupid. (To Tom.) Come, let me lace your boots for you, darling.
Curtain.
Scene II. A wood. Tom alone, a large hamper by his side.
T.—Well, this isn't such bad fun after all, as long as one can rest. I haven't chopped much wood yet, I thought I'd do it after luncheon. I shall feel so much stronger then, and be able to work twice as hard. Let me see, it must be time to lay the table. (Opens lid of hamper and looks in.) Ah, this does look good! Sausage rolls, chicken sandwiches, a salad, jam tarts, all kinds of nice things! I am so glad there is no one to share it with me! I How much nicer it is to lunch by one's self.
Voice.—Ahem! (From behind the tree.)
(Tom shuts the lid of the hamper quickly, and looks round.)