The funniest you ever heard of. Such laughing as there will
be!
ROSE. Fifty pounds--all in gold--is more than I can stand.
CLEVELAND. Then meet me in five minutes, by yonder tree.
ROSE. I'll slip on one of my mistress's dresses, and in five minutes
be ready--but remember--_fifty pounds_!
[_Exit_ ROSE.
CLEVELAND. [_Rubbing his hands_.] The best of tricks. Ha! ha! ha!
[_Exit_.
_Enter_ METCALF _and_ ELSWORTH.
ELSWORTH. Ha, ha, ha! Bravo, Metcalf! a good jest, sir.--Bridget
disguised as Rose--ha! ha! ha!
METCALF. It's exquisitely funny, sir--only I think you don't quite
understand it--
ELSWORTH. It's you, Metcalf, that don't understand it. It's nothing
but a piece of military deviltry. Why, my innocent sir, Armstrong's
confinement is only a sham--it doesn't mean anything--Cleveland told
me so himself--he will be free to-night. I shouldn't wonder if they
were drinking and carousing together now. Bless you, Metcalf, it's
only one of Cleveland's practical jokes. But I must go and find Rose,
and tell her all about it--it will give her such a laugh. How the
Captain will stare when he finds it out, to be sure!
[_Exit._
METCALF. Well, wise one, if you insist upon having it in that way,
why, do so--I suppose Miss Rose can fight her battles without your
help. It was devilish lucky, though, I overheard that plan of theirs,
or the Captain would have been victimized--damnably--ay, damnably--if
it be swearing--and a capital crime at Fidlington School.
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