The Wolves And The Lamb Part 6

MRS. B.--But George was sadly fractious just now in the school-room because I tried him with a tract.

MISS P.--Let us hope for better times! Do be with your children, dear Mrs. Bonnington, as constantly as ever you can, for MY sake as well as theirs! I want protection and advice as well as they do. The GOVERNESS, dear lady, looks up to you as well as the pupils; SHE wants the teaching which you and dear Mr. Bonnington can give her! Ah, why could not Mr.

and Mrs. Bonnington come and live here, I often think? The children would have companions in their dear young uncles and aunts; so pleasant it would be. The house is quite large enough; that is, if her ladyship did not occupy the three south rooms in the left wing. Ah, why, WHY couldn't you come?

MRS. B.--You are a kind, affectionate creature, Miss Prior. I do not very much like the gentleman who recommended you to Arabella, you know.

But I do think he sent my son a good governess for his children.

Two Ladies walk up and down in front garden.

TOUCHIT enters.

TOUCHIT.--Miss Julia Prior, you are a wonder! I watch you with respect and surprise.

MISS P.--Me! what have I done? a poor friendless governess--respect ME?

TOUCHIT.--I have a mind to tell those two ladies what I think of Miss Julia Prior. If they knew you as I know you, O Julia Prior, what a short reign yours would be!

MISS P.--I have to manage them a little. Each separately it is not so difficult. But when they are together, oh, it is very hard sometimes.

Enter MILLIKEN dressed, shakes hands with Miss P.

MILLIKEN.--Miss Prior! are you well? Have the children been good? and learned all their lessons?

MISS P.--The children are pretty good, sir.

MILLIKEN.--Well, that's a great deal as times go. Do not bother them with too much learning, Miss Prior. Let them have an easy life. Time enough for trouble when age comes.

Enter John.

JOHN.--Dinner, sir. [And exit.]

MILLIKEN.--Dinner, ladies. My Lady Kicklebury (gives arm to Lady K).

LADY K.--My dear Horace, you SHOULDN'T shake hands with Miss Prior. You should keep people of that cla.s.s at a distance, my dear creature. [They go in to dinner, Captain TOUCHIT following with Mrs. BONNINGTON. As they go out, enter MARY with children's tea-tray, &c., children following, and after them Mrs. PRIOR. MARY gives her tea.]

MRS. PRIOR.--Thank you, Mary! You are so very kind! Oh, what delicious tea!

GEORGY.--I say, Mrs. Prior, I dare say you would like to dine best, wouldn't you?

MRS. P.--Bless you, my darling love, I had my dinner at one o'clock with my children at home.

GEORGY.--So had we: but we go in to dessert very often; and then don't we have cakes and oranges and candied-peel and macaroons and things! We are not to go in to-day; because Bella ate so many strawberries she made herself ill.

BELLA.--So did you.

GEORGY.--I'm a man, and men eat more than women, twice as much as women.

When I'm a man I'll eat as much cake as ever I like. I say, Mary, give us the marmalade.

MRS. P.--Oh, what nice marmalade! I know of some poor children--

MISS P.--Mamma! don't, mamma [in an imploring tone].

MRS. P.--I know of two poor children at home, who have very seldom nice marmalade and cake, young people.

GEORGE.--You mean Adolphus and Frederick and Amelia, your children.

Well, they shall have marmalade and cake.

BELLA.--Oh, yes! I'll give them mine.

MRS. P.--Darling, dearest child!

GEORGE [his mouth full].--I won't give 'em mine: but they can have another pot, you know. You have always got a basket with you, Mrs.

Prior. I know you have. You had it that day you took the cold fowl.

MRS. P.--For the poor blind black man! oh, how thankful he was!

GEORGE.--I don't know whether it was for a black man. Mary, get us another pot of marmalade.

MARY.--I don't know, Master George.

GEORGE.--I WILL have another pot of marmalade. If you don't, I'll--I'll smash everything--I will.

BELLA.--Oh, you naughty, rude boy!

GEORGE.--Hold YOUR tongue! I WILL have it. Mary shall go and get it.

MRS. P.--Do humor him, Mary; and I'm sure my poor children at home will be the better for it.

GEORGE.--There's your basket! now put this cake in, and this pat of b.u.t.ter, and this sugar. Hurray, hurray! Oh, what jolly fun! Tell Adolphus and Amelia I sent it to them--tell 'em they shall never want for anything as long as George Kicklebury Milliken, Esq., can give it 'em. Did Adolphus like my gray coat that I didn't want?

MISS P.--You did not give him your new gray coat?

GEORGE.--Don't you speak to me; I'm going to school--I'm not going to have no more governesses soon.

MRS. P.--Oh, my dear Master George, what a nice coat it is, and how well my poor boy looked in it!

MISS P.--Don't, mamma! I pray and entreat you not to take the things!

Enter JOHN from dining-room with a tray.

JOHN.--Some cream, some jelly, a little champagne, Miss Prior; I thought you might like some.

GEORGE.--Oh, jolly! give us hold of the jelly! give us a gla.s.s of champagne.

JOHN.--I will not give you any.

GEORGE.--I'll smash every gla.s.s in the room if you don't; I'll cut my fingers; I'll poison myself--there! I'll eat all this sealing-wax if you don't, and it's rank poison, you know it is.