MISS P.--Mamma! don't, mamma [in an imploring tone].
MRS. P.--I know of two poor children at home, who have very seldom nice
marmalade and cake, young people.
GEORGE.--You mean Adolphus and Frederick and Amelia, your children.
Well, they shall have marmalade and cake.
BELLA.--Oh, yes! I'll give them mine.
MRS. P.--Darling, dearest child!
GEORGE [his mouth full].--I won't give 'em mine: but they can have
another pot, you know. You have always got a basket with you, Mrs.
Prior. I know you have. You had it that day you took the cold fowl.
MRS. P.--For the poor blind black man! oh, how thankful he was!
GEORGE.--I don't know whether it was for a black man. Mary, get us
another pot of marmalade.
MARY.--I don't know, Master George.
GEORGE.--I WILL have another pot of marmalade. If you don't, I'll--I'll
smash everything--I will.
BELLA.--Oh, you naughty, rude boy!
GEORGE.--Hold YOUR tongue! I WILL have it. Mary shall go and get it.
MRS. P.--Do humor him, Mary; and I'm sure my poor children at home will
be the better for it.
GEORGE.--There's your basket! now put this cake in, and this pat
of butter, and this sugar. Hurray, hurray! Oh, what jolly fun! Tell
Adolphus and Amelia I sent it to them--tell 'em they shall never want
for anything as long as George Kicklebury Milliken, Esq., can give it
'em. Did Adolphus like my gray coat that I didn't want?
MISS P.--You did not give him your new gray coat?
GEORGE.--Don't you speak to me; I'm going to school--I'm not going to
have no more governesses soon.
MRS. P.--Oh, my dear Master George, what a nice coat it is, and how well
my poor boy looked in it!
MISS P.--Don't, mamma! I pray and entreat you not to take the things!
Enter JOHN from dining-room with a tray.
JOHN.--Some cream, some jelly, a little champagne, Miss Prior; I thought
you might like some.
GEORGE.--Oh, jolly! give us hold of the jelly! give us a glass of
champagne.
JOHN.--I will not give you any.
GEORGE.--I'll smash every glass in the room if you don't; I'll cut my
fingers; I'll poison myself--there! I'll eat all this sealing-wax if you
don't, and it's rank poison, you know it is.