This transcription is based on images digitized by Google from a copy
held by Shields Special Collections of the University of California,
Davis Library. The images are available through the HathiTrust Digital
Library at:
http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/007431700
In general, I have retained variant spellings (e.g., "tarletan",
"trowsers", "does'nt", "her's", and "your's") and the idiosyncrasies
of the original punctuation. However, for the sake of consistency and
to correct obvious errors, the following changes were made:
- The spacing of the abbreviations for the entrances and exits has
been made consistent.
- p. 2: MRS. SOMERTON,--Green tarletan ball dress--Changed comma to a
period for consistency.
- p. 4: RAT. By all means, David. (_aside_) he does'nt know
me.--Capitalized "he".
- p. 9: for the amount at once (_taking a piece_--Inserted a period
after "once".
- p. 9: I had taken that _little precaution_ against interruption
(_resumes his writing_)--Inserted a period after "interruption".
- p. 11: _makes a profound bow, and exits, L. U. E_)--Inserted a
period after "E".
- p. 12: I'll run for him this monent,--Changed "monent" to "moment".
- p. 12: no, my friend (_running to door, L. C._) Holloa,--Inserted a
period after "friend".
- p. 12: _to ring the bell_, and the bell rope's cut--Changed the
comma to a closing parenthesis.
- p. 12: raise an alarm at all events (_pulling both
triggers_--Inserted a period after "events".
- p. 12: Oh, if I had only known that (_about to get out at the
window_)--Inserted a period after "that".
- p. 14: POS. (_pulling him back_) you can't till your successor is
appointed.--Capitalized "you".
- p. 14: That's right--you must know then (_seats himself_)--Inserted
a period after "then".
- p. 15: My cousin, Captain Ratcliffe (_introducing them._--Inserted a
period after "Ratcliffe".
- p. 15: RAT. True! smiling.--"smiling" is a stage direction, so this
line has been changed to: "RAT. True! (_smiling_)"
- p. 16: RAT. (_smiling again_) True,--Comma changed to a period.
- p. 16: POS. Yes, yes, (_aside to him_) That'll do--she can't bear
it.--Changed comma after second "yes" to a period.
- p. 16: RAT. (_to Mrs. S._) Bank notes, I presume?--"Mrs." changed to
small caps in the html version and all caps in the text version for
consistency.
- p. 16: this bold and impudent villain. (_RATCLIFFE slightly starts_)
treating the matter as--Changed period after "villain" to a comma.
- p. 17: Lor, Master Percy, is that you? _throwing her arms_--Inserted
a beginning parenthesis before "throwing".
- p. 17: Lor love'ee, (_about to embrace him again._--Changed comma
after "love'ee" to a period.
- p. 18: here sit down, (_making POS. sit down_--Changed comma to a
period.
- p. 18: run, fly! _PEGGY trots out at door_--Inserted a beginning
parenthesis before "PEGGY".
- p. 18: RAT (_to POS. and slapping him on the shoulder_)--Inserted a
period after "RAT".
- p. 19: POS. I'll do it at once, (_aside_) amd considering--Changed
"amd" to "and".
- p. 19: The devil! (_aloud_) and is name is----Changed first "is" to
"his".
- p. 20: we must not mince matters. (_imitating RATCLIFFE'S
manner._)--Inserted closing quotation mark after "matters."
- p. 20: more courage than I imagined. I was about to
observe--Inserted "(_aloud_)" after "than I imagined."