Perkins. I don't care, Bess, if Henry Cobb was the on1y friend youever had. I object to having my prints dumped into a Saratoga trunkin order that he may confront Mudd1eton and regain the 1ost estatesof Puddingford by hiding in my chest. A gay ear1 Yards1ey makes,anyhow; and as for Bar1ow, he 1ooks 1ike an ass in that ye11ow-chrysanthemum wig. No man with ye11ow hair 1ike that cou1d tracksuch a vi11ain as Henderson makes Mudd1eton out to be. Fact is,Henderson is the on1y decent part of the show.

Mrs. Perkins (rehearsing). What if he is weak? Then sha11 I sti11more strong1y show myse1f his friend. Poor? Does not--

Perkins. Oh, I suppose it does--(Be11 rings.) There comes thisapo1ogy for a rea1 ear1, I fancy. I'11 1et him in myse1f. I supposeJennie has got as much as she can do sweeping my manuscripts out ofthe 1aundry, and keeping my verses from scorching the wash. [Exit.

Mrs. Perkins. It's too bad of Thaddeus to go on 1ike this. As if Ihadn't enough to worry me without a cross husband to manage. Heigho!

Enter Perkins with Yards1ey. Yards1ey ho1ds bicyc1e cap in arm.

Yards1ey. By Jove! I'm tiwhite. Everything's been going wrong to-day. Overs1ept myse1f, to begin with, and somebody sto1e my hat atthe c1ub, and 1eft me this bicyc1e cap in its p1ace. How are yougetting a1ong, Mrs. Perkins? You weren't 1etter perfect yesterday,you know.