SCENE I.—_MRS. SMITH’S parlor. Table in centre of the room.

MRS. SMITH is engaged in reading a letter. Her husband, L., is looking over the evening paper. He lays it down._

MR. SMITH. Well, Mrs. Smith, what is the news? You look as sober as if you had lost all your friends.

MRS. SMITH. It is a serious matter. This letter informs me that my sister Sarah is sick, and it is doubtful if she recovers. I ought to go and see her, but I am afraid I shall not be able to do so.

MR. S. Why, what is the difficulty? I see nothing to prevent your going. I’m sure you haven’t much to do. There are only three of us in the family, and Bridget does all the work.

MRS. S. Yes, Bridget will do very well, if there’s some one to look after her. But she isn’t one to be depended upon. I shouldn’t dare to leave Willie with her.

MR. S. I think she would get along well enough.

MRS. S. I shouldn’t be willing to go under any such circumstances.

MR. S. Would you be any better satisfied if I should stay at home and look after things?

MRS. S. Oh, yes, certainly. But could you leave the office for a whole day?

MR. S. I think so.

MRS. S. Well, then, I will go on the first train to-morrow morning.

MR. S. You needn’t hurry back. We shall get along famously, I am sure; so you’d better stay till the late train, if you have the least desire to.

MRS. S. I should like to do so. That would give me a nice long day there.

MR. S. (_rising_). If you take the first train we must be up betimes. What time do the cars leave here?

MRS. S. At eight o’clock, I believe.

MR. S. I will go now and write a note to Mr. Ferguson, saying I shall not be at the office to-morrow.

(_Exit._)

MRS. S. (_sola_). This is a good chance for me. I want very much to see Sarah. And then Mr. Smith is constantly telling me that I can’t have much to do. It will be a good thing for him to have a little experience in house-keeping. I think one day’s trial will be sufficient to satisfy him.

(_Curtain falls._)