The Parent's Assistant Part 29

_Lord J._ (_aside_). Alas! I must vote for him.

_Rory sings._

True game to the last; no Wheeler for me; Talbot, oh, Talbot's the dog for me.

(_Several voices join the chorus._)

_Burs._ Wheeler, if you are not chosen Captain, you must see and pay me for the dress.

_Wheel._ I am as poor as a rat.

_Rory._ Oh yes! oh yes! hear ye! hear ye, all manner of men--the election is now going to begin forthwith in the big field, and Rory O'Ryan holds the poll for Talbot. Talbot for ever!--huzza!

(_Exit Rory followed by the Boys, who exclaim,_ Talbot for ever!--huzza! _The Landlord and Farmer join them._)

_Lord J._ Talbot, I am glad you _are_ what I always thought you--I'm glad you did not write that odious song. I would not lose such a friend for all the songs in the world. Forgive me for my hastiness this morning. I've punished myself--I've promised to vote for Wheeler.

_Talb._ Oh, no matter whom you vote for, my lord, if you are still my friend, and if you know me to be yours.

(_They shake hands._)

_Lord J._ I must not say, '_Huzza for Talbot!_'

(_Exeunt._)

[Ill.u.s.tration: _'I say I saw_ him _there take the jump which strained the horse.'_]

SCENE IV

WINDSOR TERRACE

LADY PIERCEFIELD, MRS. TALBOT, LOUISA, _and a little girl of six years old_, LADY VIOLETTA, _daughter to_ LADY PIERCEFIELD.

_Violetta_ (_looking at a paper which Louisa holds_). I like it _very_ much.

_Lady P._ What is it you like _very_ much, Violetta?

_Violet._ You are not to know _yet_, mamma; it is--I may tell her that--it is a little drawing that Louisa is doing for me. Louisa, I wish you would let me show it to mamma.

_Louisa._ And welcome, my dear; it is only a sketch of 'The Little Merchants,' a story which Violetta was reading, and she asked me to try to draw the pictures of the little merchants for her.

(_Whilst Lady P. looks at the drawing, Violetta says to Louisa_)

But are you in earnest, Louisa, about what you were saying to me just now,--quite in earnest?

_Louisa._ Yes, in earnest,--quite in earnest, my dear.

_Violet._ And may I ask mamma _now_?

_Louisa._ If you please, my dear.

_Violet._ (_runs to her mother_). Stoop down to me, mamma; I've something to whisper to you.

(_Lady Piercefield stoops down; Violetta throws her arms round her mother's neck._)

_Violet._ (_aside to her mother_). Mamma, do you know--you know you want a governess for me.

_Lady P._ Yes, if I could find a good one.

_Violet._ (_aloud_). Stoop again, mamma, I've more to whisper. (_Aside to her mother._) _She_ says she will be my governess, if you please.

_Lady P._ _She!_--who is _she_?

_Violet._ Louisa.

_Lady P._ (_patting Violetta's cheek_). You are a little fool. Miss Talbot is only playing with you.

_Violet._ No, indeed, mamma; she is in earnest; are not you, Louisa?--Oh, say yes!

_Louisa._ Yes.

_Violet._ (_claps her hands_). _Yes_, mamma; do you hear _yes_?

_Louisa._ If Lady Piercefield will trust you to my care, I am persuaded that I should be much happier as your governess, my good little Violetta, than as an humble dependent of Miss Bursal's. (_Aside to her mother._) You see that, now I am put to the trial, I keep to my resolution, dear mother.

_Mrs. T._ Your ladys.h.i.+p would not be surprised at this offer of my Louisa, if you had heard, as we have done within these few hours, of the loss of the East India s.h.i.+p in which almost our whole property was embarked.

_Louisa._ The _Bombay Castle_ is wrecked.

_Lady P._ The _Bombay Castle_! I have the pleasure to tell you that you are misinformed--it was the _Airly Castle_ that was wrecked.

_Louisa and Mrs. T._ Indeed!

_Lady P._ Yes; you may depend upon it--it was the _Airly Castle_ that was lost. You know I am just come from Portsmouth, where I went to meet my brother, Governor Morton, who came home with the last India fleet, and from whom I had the intelligence.

(_Here Violetta interrupts, to ask her mother for her nosegay--Lady P. gives it to her,--then goes on speaking._)

_Lady P._ They were in such haste, foolish people! to carry their news to London, that they mistook one castle for another. But do you know that Mr. Bursal loses fifty thousand pounds, it is said, by the _Airly Castle_? When I told him she was lost, I thought he would have dropped down. However, I found he comforted himself afterwards with a bottle of Burgundy; but poor Miss Bursal has been in hysterics ever since.

_Mrs. T._ Poor girl! My Louisa, _you_ did not fall into hysterics, when I told you of the loss of our whole fortune.

(_Violetta, during this dialogue, has been seated on the ground making up a nosegay._)

_Violet._ (_aside_). Fall into hysterics! What are hysterics, I wonder.

[Ill.u.s.tration: _'Talbot and truth for ever! Huzza.'_]

_Louisa._ Miss Bursal is much to be pitied; for the loss of wealth will be the loss of happiness to her.