SCENE II.—_Printing office. ED., C., looking complacently at

a newspaper spread out to its full proportions on the table before him._

ED. (_soliloquizing_). And this is the result of my first week’s labor as an editor. Excellent as my friend Clark has heretofore made the “Post,” I think he will acknowledge that I have made some improvements in it. (_Glances complacently down the page. His eye is suddenly arrested by a paragraph which startles him._) What! What’s this? (_Reads._)

“MR. FERNANDO CLAPP,—_Dear Sir_: I am instructed by your tailor to present, for immediate payment, his bill amounting to twenty-one dollars, eighteen cents and three-quarters. You are requested to pay immediate attention to it, as otherwise the law will take cognizance of your delinquency.

“TIMOTHY PETTIGREW, _Att’y at Law_.”

ED. (_furiously to P. D. entering R._). How did this get into the paper?

P. D. (_smiling_). You gave it out as copy, sir.

ED. When?

P. D. The first day you were here.

(_Exit P. D. as DR. RANDALL enters L. He is evidently very much excited. He holds in his hand a copy of the “Post.”_)

DR. R. (_pointing to an item_). Did you write that?

ED. (_coolly_). Yes. I hope it suits you.

DR. R. Suits me! Confound your impudence! Suits me! What do you mean by that, sir?

ED. You seem angry—why, I am at a loss to guess.

DR. R. Sir, in noticing my medicine, you have insulted me.

ED. (_surprised_). In noticing your medicine! How?

DR. R. (_placing paper within two inches of ED.’S nose, he repeats_), “_He says it will cure the most obstinate case of dyspepsia. Perhaps it may._” I demand an explanation, sir.

ED. (_stepping back_). It is very easily given. I only intended to say, that personally I had no experience of the matter, and not being able to speak positively, I said “_perhaps_!”

DR. R. (_suspiciously_). Is that true?

ED. Certainly. But, if you wish, I will recall the statement in our next issue.

DR. R. That would be more satisfactory to me.

(_Exit, L._)

(_Enter, L., a fierce-looking individual._)

HENRY PERKINS (_in a threatening tone_). Are you the editor?

ED. (_with quaking heart_). Yes.

H. P. (_sneering_). I suppose you don’t know who I am?

ED. No, I don’t.

H. P. (_fiercely_). I am that Henry Perkins whom you have so atrociously libelled in your paper of this morning. Don’t think, sir, that such conduct is to go unpunished! I stand upon my rights, sir, as a citizen, and I will not be trampled upon.

(_MR. P. seizes ED. by the collar of his coat and shakes him vigorously._)

ED. (_struggling_). Unhand me, sir!

H. P. (_still shaking him_). There, you little blackguard! I guess you won’t slander me again in a hurry.

ED. (_passionately_). I’ll have the law of you, you villain!

H. P. You will, eh! Then I must give you your pay in advance.

(_He continues to shake him a moment. Then making a low, mocking bow, he goes out._)

ED. (_furiously_). I won’t stand this. I’ll leave a note for Clark, and go home this moment. There’s no knowing what may come next. It is as much as one’s life is worth to be an editor.

(_Exit hurriedly._)

(_Curtain falls._)

KEEPING GENTEEL BOARDERS.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

MRS. JONES, Keeper of a Boarding-House. AMANDA, Her Daughter. MRS. SIMPERTON, ⎫ ISADORA MALVINA, ⎪ COUNT HENRI DE FRIPON, ⎪ ABIGAIL TRIST, ⎬ Applicants for Board ZACHARY WINFIELD TAYLOR SCOTT, ⎪ JETHRO BURBANK, ⎪ MRS. WESTWOOD, ⎭ SHERIFF. MR. RANDALL. BRIDGET.