SCENE II.—_Country railway station. MRS. MONTGOMERY, C., and

two children, R., sitting with outer garments on. Two trunks, a bandbox and travelling-bag on the floor. Enter JONATHAN HODGE, L., wearing a coarse frock and carrying a whip._

JONATHAN (_to MRS. M._). Be yeaou the folks what’s going to the Joneses?

MRS. M. Yes, we wish to go to Mr. Jones’, at Honeysuckle Villa.

J. Honeysuckle Villa. Wal, that’s a good un. Ha, ha, ha!

MRS. M. (_aside_). Is it possible that they have deceived me? But I shall soon learn. (_Aloud._) Is the carriage ready?

J. (_laughing_). Ya—as, the kerridge is waitin’. You can see it from the door (_nods toward door, L._)

MRS. M. (_looks out with some curiosity_). I don’t see any carriage. There’s nothing but a farm wagon in sight.

J. That’s the kerridge that’s come for ye, anyway. Mr. Jones thought mebbe you’d hev a lot of baggage, so he sent the hay-riggin’.

MRS. M. But there are no seats.

J. Yes, there’s a board to put across, after we get loaded up.

MRS. M. (_indignantly_). And we are expected to ride in such a vehicle as that?

J. There aint no use in callin’ it names. It’s easy enough ridin’ in it.

MRS. M. But we cannot all sit on one seat.

J. The children can set on the trunks. (_Takes up one of the trunks to carry it out. Exit, L._)

GEORGE. Say, mother, have we got to ride in that old, ricketty wagon? It’ll jolt like everything, I know ’twill.

MRS. M. (_in a soothing tone_). We’ve only got to ride a few steps.

J. (_entering_). Don’t know ’bout that. I reckon it’s a good mile down there, and the roads aint none of the best.

MRS. M. (_indignantly_). Mr. Jones’ advertisement stated that his house was only five minutes’ walk from the station.

J. Mr. Jones got the schoolmaster to write that notice for the paper. He came up to the house one night and did it. Jones told him to put it in pretty strong. The marster read it out ’loud after he’d writ it, an’ I declair to goodness, I shouldn’t ha’ knowed ’twas the same place we lived in.

MRS. M. (_decidedly_). Well, if I don’t like the place, we shan’t stay, that’s all.

J. (_smiling incredulously_). Oh, mebbe you’ll like it, after all. Folks need a change sometimes. (_Takes out another trunk, L._)

FLORENCE. Mother, I’m thirsty.

MRS. M. There isn’t anything to drink here. We’ll soon get to Mr. Jones’.

FLOR. (_impatiently_). I want something to drink now.

MRS. M. Wait patiently a little longer, and then you can have a drink of nice, fresh milk. (_Enter JONATHAN._)

J. (_aside_). I shouldn’t be a mite surprised if they was disapp’inted in their expectations. I guess they won’t find many delicacies at Joneses. Leastways, I never did. (_Aloud_) Kerridge is ready, folks. (_Takes bandbox and bag and goes out L., MRS. M. and children follow._)

(_Curtain falls._)