SCENE I.—_Parlor. MR. MONTGOMERY, L., reading paper. MRS.

MONTGOMERY, R., sewing._

MRS. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Montgomery.

MR. MONTGOMERY. Well, my dear.

MRS. M. We must go into the country this summer.

MR. M. Is it absolutely essential to your happiness?

MRS. M. (_with suppressed eagerness_). Of course I should enjoy it very much. But I wasn’t thinking of myself. The children need it far more than I do. They are both quite feeble and need fresh air and country living.

MR. M. I hadn’t noticed that the children were not as well as usual.

MRS. M. No, I dare say not. Men never notice such things. But they are both ailing; and if I didn’t doctor them all the time, they’d be down sick.

MR. M. We can’t afford to pay the extravagant prices charged for country board.

MRS. M. I don’t expect to go to a fashionable place. But we might get boarded, at a low rate, at some farm-house where we could get fresh fruits and vegetables, and those things which can only be found in the country. I’m sure it’s better to pay one’s money for such things than to spend it for medicine.

MR. M. The sea-breeze is better than the country air. You might take a trip with the children to Hingham or Nahant once or twice a week.

MRS. M. (_slightly ruffled_). How foolishly you talk! But then it’s what I might expect. These short trips always fatigue people more than they benefit them. When it’s too late to help the children, perhaps you’ll think of my advice and wish you’d followed it.

MR. M. If it’s as serious a matter as you suppose, and this is the only remedy, I should say go, by all means.

MRS. M. You must judge for yourself.

MR. M. But I don’t believe it is possible to find such a place as would suit you at a reasonable price.

MRS. M. (_eagerly_). I found an advertisement in last week’s paper describing a place that I thought would be just such us we would like. Here it is. (_Takes paper from table—reads._)

“COUNTRY BOARDING.—Those who are leaving behind them the noise and dust of the city, and wish to refresh themselves by a communion with nature, will find a desirable summer retreat at Honeysuckle Villa, in the beautiful town of Hillsdale. It is within five minutes’ walk of the railroad, in the midst of a country rich in vegetation, and smiling under the liberal eye of a bountiful Providence. A beautiful lake, at the distance of a quarter of a mile, presents strong attractions for the angler, while a boat which has recently been placed upon it will enable the visitor to enjoy the luxury of a sail. No pains will be spared to render this a delightful retreat for the denizens of the metropolis.

“ELIPHALET JONES.”

MR. M. That sounds well enough. But what proof have you that things are as represented?

MRS. M. I wrote to Mr. Jones, and received a very gentlemanly reply. As he says, the terms are quite moderate. Mrs. Livingston pays nearly twice as much.

MR. M. What are the terms?

MRS. M. Thirty dollars per week for you, myself, and the two children.

MR. M. But are there trains at hours to accommodate me?

MRS. M. Yes, I took pains to ascertain that.

MR. M. Very well, then, make whatever arrangements you choose. We can but give it a trial.

(_Exit MR. M., L._)

MRS. M. (_triumphantly_). That’s one point gained. The next thing is to make preparations for our journey. I was determined not to be cooped up in the city another summer, when all our acquaintances are boarding in the country.

(_Curtain falls._)