The William Henry Letters Part 19

Enter boy with picture-papers, which he distributes. Some examine them, others let them lie. (Dandy buys one.) Boy collects them and pa.s.ses out. Enter a very little ragged boy, with fiddle, or accordion. After playing awhile, pa.s.ses round his hat. Most of the pa.s.sengers drop something in it. Exit boy.

Enter Conductor. "Tickets!" Collects tickets. (Steam-whistle heard.) Pa.s.sengers pick up their things. Curtain drops just as the last one goes out. (This scene might be ended by the pa.s.sengers, at a given signal, pulling their seats together, pitching over, and having the curtain fall on a smash-up.)

SECOND SYLLABLE.

_LADY in morning-dress and jaunty breakfast-cap, sadly leaning her head on her hand. On table near is toast, chocolate, &c. Enter MAGGIE with tray._

_Maggie._ Ate a bit, mum, ate a bit. 'T will cheer ye up like!

_Lady (looking up)._ No, no, I cannot eat. O, the precious darling! It is now seventeen hours since I saw him last. Ah, he's lost!

_Maggie._ And did ye slape at arl, mum?

_Lady._ Scarcely, Maggie. And in dreams I saw my darling, chased by rude boys, or at the bottom of deep waters, in filthy mud, eaten by fishes, or else mauled by dreadful cats. Take away the untasted meal. I cannot, cannot eat.

_Exit MAGGIE with breakfast things. Enter MIKE with newspapers._

_Mike._ Mornin' paper, mum.

_Lady (catching it, and looking eagerly up and down its columns)._ Let me see if he is found. O, here! "Found! A diamond pin on--" Pshaw, diamond pin! Here it is. "Dog found! Black and tan--" Faugh, black and tan! My beauty was pure white. But, Mike where's the notice of our darling's being lost?

_Mike._ Shure, an' it's to the side o' the house I put it, mum, arl writ in illegant sizey litters, mum.

_Lady (in alarm)._ And didn't you go to the printers at all?

_Mike._ Shure an' be n't it better out in the brard daylight, mum, laning aginst th' 'ouse convanient like, an' aisy to see, mum?

_Lady._ O Mike, you've undone me! Quick! Pen, ink, and paper. Quick! I say.

_Exit MIKE._

_Lady (solus)._ It was but yesterday I held him in these arms! He licked my face, and took from my hand the bits of chicken, and sipped of my chocolate. His little black eyes looked up, O so brightly! to mine. His little tail, it wagged so happy! O, dear, lovely one, where are you now?

_Enter MIKE, with placard on long stick, with these words in very large letters._

Dog Lost! V Dollus! ReeWarD! InnQuire Withinn! Live oR DED!!!

_Reads it aloud, very slowly, pointing with finger._

_Mike._ An' it's meeself larned the fine writin', mum, in th' ould counthry.

_Lady (excited)._ Pray take that dreadful thing away, and bring me pen and paper!

_Exit MIKE, muttering. Knock heard at door._

_Lady._ Come!

_Enter_ MARKET-MAN, _in blue frock_.

_Market-man._ Good day, ma'am. Heard you'd lost a dog.

_Lady (eagerly, with hand extended)._ Yes, yes! Where is he?

_Market-man._ Was he a curly, s.h.a.ggy dog?

_Lady._ Yes! O yes! Where did you find him?

_Market-man._ Was your dog bright and playful?

_Lady (in an excited manner)._ O, very! very!

_Market-man._ Answered to the name of Carlo?

_Lady._ Yes! He did! he did! O, if I had him in these arms!

_Market-man (in surprise)._ Arms, ma'am? Arms? 'T is a Newfoundland dog!

He could carry you in his arms!

_Lady (dejected)._ O cruel, cruel disappointment!

_Market-man._ What kind of a dog was yours?

_Lady._ O, a dear little lapdog. His curls were white and soft as silk!

_Market-man (going)._ Good day, ma'am. If I see him, I'll fetch him.

_Exit MARKET-MAN. MIKE enters with writing materials, and goes out again. LADY begins to write, repeating the words she writes aloud._

_Lady._ Lost, strayed, or stolen. A curly--(_Tap at door._) Come!

_Enter stupid-looking BOY, in scanty jacket and trousers, and too large hat._

_Lady._ Did you wish to see me?

_Boy (drawling)._ Yes, ma'am.

_Lady._ About a dog?

_Boy._ Yes, ma'am.

_Lady._ Have you found one?

_Boy._ Yes, ma'am.

_Lady._ Is it a very small dog?

_Boy._ Yes, ma'am.