SCENE III.—_Room in confusion. Slippers under the sofa, coats

on chairs, two of MARY’S dresses on sofa, and her shawl and bonnet on JOHN’S arm-chair. Two of JOHN’S hats on table. MARY crocheting, R. JOHN and EDWIN HASTINGS enter, L._

JOHN (_glancing in surprise, first around the room, then at his wife_). What! house-cleaning, Mary?

M. Oh, no. (_Turns to greet his companion._) I’m glad to see you, Mr. Hastings. Sit down, do. (_Takes coat from chair, and tosses it carelessly on sofa._) You haven’t been here for a long time.

EDWIN (_looking round with an amused smile_). It _is_ a long time for me to be away.

J. (_taking M.’S shawl and bonnet from easy-chair_.) Say, Mary, what shall I do with these dry-goods?

M. Oh, lay them on the table.

J. But there isn’t room.

M. Isn’t there? Well, put them on the piano.

J. But I was just going to open it, so that we might have some music.

M. Well, put them on the sofa, then. There’s certainly room enough there.

J. But some one may sit on them there.

M. I guess not.

J. (_glancing uneasily around_). Hadn’t you better pick up things a little, Mary?

M. (_carelessly_). Oh, no, just let them lie as they are.

J. But they look so bad. And you know we frequently have callers in the evening.

M. Oh, they don’t look bad. I don’t see but a thing looks as well in one place as another.

J. I never saw your room look like this before, Mary.

M. (_apparently surprised_). Didn’t you? But I thought we might as well keep things handy. What’s the use of having a house, if you can’t keep things where you want to?

J. Oh, that’s it. So you’re giving an imitation of me, are you?

M. (_smiling_). I’ve tried to. But don’t you like it?

J. No, I don’t; that’s a fact.

M. Well, then, if you’ll agree not to do so again, I’ll straighten up the room; but if you have a relapse, mind, I shall have one, too.

J. Oh, I shan’t; don’t fear. If I’m in danger of it, the recollection of this scene will bring me back to the paths of rectitude.

E. (_coming forward, and bowing with mock deference_). I congratulate you, on the success of your scheme, Mrs. Marden, and have no doubt it will prove efficacious. It is worth a dozen scoldings, and is a far more agreeable remedy.

J. (_exultantly_). I rather think it touches you a little, old fellow, too, judging from the appearance of your bachelor apartments when I have called there.

E. I am sure of that, and have taken a part of it to myself already. When next you come to my rooms, you will, without doubt, be struck with the transformation, and will perceive at once, that I, as well as yourself have profited by Mrs. Marden’s lesson.

(_Curtain falls._)

THE MAGIC MIRROR.

CHARACTERS.

MADAME DEVINERESSE, ⎫ Fortune-tellers. MADAME MARIE, ⎭ TOM, DICK, HARRY, ⎫ School-boys. WALTER, JOE, NAT, ⎭ FAUSTINA, A Little Servant.