Mrs. B. No, John! But stand on your own feet, and say: "Come, neighbor, let us do something better and wiser than hate each other."
Mr. B. I'll not do it. He has—
Lucy. Hark! What's that?
[Music outside—the sound of a harp, or of a concealed piano played very softly.
Then, to its accompaniment, is sung the following carol:]
"Be merry all, be merry all!
With holly dress the festive hall,
Prepare the song, the feast, the ball,
To welcome Merry Christmas.
"And, oh! remember, gentles gay,
To you who bask in fortune's ray