SCENE III.—_Parlor at MR. LEWIS’. MRS. L., R., AGNES, C., and

PHILIP, L., present. They are engaged in taking off their outer garments._

MRS. LEWIS. How glad I am to get home again! I feel very tired.

PHILIP. I don’t feel tired a bit. I wanted to stop longer. Didn’t you, Agnes?

AGNES. I had a nice time, and enjoyed myself very much. (_Smiling._) I don’t suppose I should seriously have objected to stopping longer. Do you know, Phil, I made a good many new acquaintances this evening?

PHIL. Yes, you seemed to be having a splendid time, talking with Fitznoodle. I can’t say I admire your taste.

A. Oh, as for that, I don’t fancy him much, myself, but you know one must be civil, even if they don’t like those they are talking with.

(_Enter AUNT RACHEL, R., with night-cap on, in a state of great excitement._)

A. R. Oh, murder! Help! Thieves!

MRS. L. What is it, Rachel?

A. R. (_gasping_). Oh, dear! Oh, dear!

MRS. L. Why, Rachel, what is the matter?

A. Do tell us, Aunt Rachel.

PHIL. (_sturdily_). I’ll protect you, Aunt Rachel. Where’s the robber?

A. R. Oh, there’s a man in my room—and he spoke to me. (_Clasping her hands._) What shall I do? Oh! oh!

MRS. L. A man in your room! It can’t be. How could he get in with the doors all locked?

A. R. (_tartly_). I tell you there is a man there. Don’t you believe me? He spoke to me too.

PHIL. What did he say, Aunt Rachel?

A. R. I’m sure I don’t know. I didn’t wait to hear.

MR. L. (_entering, L._). Pray what is the matter? You all look frightened.

MRS. L. And well we may. There’s a man in Rachel’s room.

MR. L. That’s all imagination. It is simply impossible that any one could get in, under the circumstances.

A. R. (_in a high tone_). What! Do you mean to insinuate that I don’t know what I’m talking about? I guess I haven’t lost the use of any of my faculties yet. And I saw him with my own eyes.

MR. L. Don’t get disturbed, Rachel. We can easily learn whether there is any one there or not. I will go myself and see.

MRS. L. Don’t go, Alfred. If there is a man there, of course he is armed. What could you do to protect yourself against the assault of a desperate man, and one well armed too? Take my advice and call a policeman.

MR. L. Well, perhaps that would be a better way. (_Starts to go out, L._)

MRS. L. But what shall we do? We can’t be left alone. He might murder us all and escape before you got back.

MR. L. That is true.

MRS. L. Why can’t we arm ourselves, and all go, in a body? There wouldn’t be much chance for him to escape, and we could, all together, overpower him.

MR. L. Very well. I’ll take the carving-knife. (_Takes it from, table._)

MRS. L. I’ll take the poker. (_Takes it._)

PHIL. I’ll take the tongs. (_Takes them, and stepping up behind AUNT RACHEL, pretends to take off her night-cap with them._)

A. R. I’ll take the broom, and use it well, too. (_Takes it from behind the door._)

A. I’ll get the clothes-line to tie him with. (_Exit AGNES, R. The rest go out, R., in the following order—MR. and MRS. L., AUNT R., and PHILIP._)

(_Curtain falls._)