The Parent's Assistant; Or, Stories for Children

Lord J. I must not say, 'Huzza for Talbot!'

    (Exeunt.)

SCENE IV

Windsor Terrace

Lady Piercefield, Mrs. Talbot, Louisa, and a little girl of six years old, Lady Violetta, daughter to Lady Piercefield

Violetta (looking at a paper which Louisa holds). I like it very much.

Lady P. What is it you like very much, Violetta?

Violet. You are not to know yet, mamma; it is – I may tell her that – it is a little drawing that Louisa is doing for me. Louisa, I wish you would let me show it to mamma.

Louisa. And welcome, my dear; it is only a sketch of 'The Little Merchants,' a story which Violetta was reading, and she asked me to try to draw the pictures of the little merchants for her.

    (Whilst Lady P. looks at the drawing, Violetta says to Louisa)

But are you in earnest, Louisa, about what you were saying to me just now, – quite in earnest?

Louisa. Yes, in earnest, – quite in earnest, my dear.

Violet. And may I ask mamma now?

Louisa. If you please, my dear.

Violet. (runs to her mother). Stoop down to me, mamma; I've something to whisper to you.

    (Lady Piercefield stoops down; Violetta throws her arms round her mother's neck.)

Violet. (aside to her mother). Mamma, do you know – you know you want a governess for me.

Lady P. Yes, if I could find a good one.

Violet. (aloud). Stoop again, mamma, I've more to whisper. (Aside to her mother.) She says she will be my governess, if you please.

Lady P.She!– who is she?

Violet. Louisa.

Lady P. (patting Violetta's cheek). You are a little fool. Miss Talbot is only playing with you.

Violet. No, indeed, mamma; she is in earnest; are not you, Louisa? – Oh, say yes!

Louisa. Yes.

Violet. (claps her hands). Yes, mamma; do you hear yes?

Louisa. If Lady Piercefield will trust you to my care, I am persuaded that I should be much happier as your governess, my good little Violetta, than as an humble dependent of Miss Bursal's. (Aside to her mother.) You see that, now I am put to the trial, I keep to my resolution, dear mother.

Mrs. T. Your ladyship would not be surprised at this offer of my Louisa, if you had heard, as we have done within these few hours, of the loss of the East India ship in which almost our whole property was embarked.

Louisa. The Bombay Castle is wrecked.

Lady P. The Bombay Castle! I have the pleasure to tell you that you are misinformed – it was the Airly Castle that was wrecked.

Louisa and Mrs. T. Indeed!

Lady P. Yes; you may depend upon it – it was the Airly Castle that was lost. You know I am just come from Portsmouth, where I went to meet my brother, Governor Morton, who came home with the last India fleet, and from whom I had the intelligence.

    (Here Violetta interrupts, to ask her mother for her nosegay – Lady P. gives it to her, – then goes on speaking.)

Lady P. They were in such haste, foolish people! to carry their news to London, that they mistook one castle for another. But do you know that Mr. Bursal loses fifty thousand pounds, it is said, by the Airly Castle? When I told him she was lost, I thought he would have dropped down. However, I found he comforted himself afterwards with a bottle of Burgundy; but poor Miss Bursal has been in hysterics ever since.

Mrs. T. Poor girl! My Louisa, you did not fall into hysterics, when I told you of the loss of our whole fortune.

    (Violetta, during this dialogue, has been seated on the ground making up a nosegay.)

Violet. (aside). Fall into hysterics! What are hysterics, I wonder.

Louisa. Miss Bursal is much to be pitied; for the loss of wealth will be the loss of happiness to her.

Lady P. It is to be hoped that the loss may at least check the foolish pride and extravagance of young Bursal, who, as my son tells me —

    (A cry of 'Huzza! huzza!' behind the scenes.)

Enter Lord John

Lord J. (hastily). How d'ye do, mother? Miss Talbot, I give you joy.

Lady P. Take breath – take breath.

Louisa. It is my brother.

Mrs. T. Here he is! – Hark! hark!

    (A cry behind the scenes of 'Talbot and truth for ever! Huzza!')

Louisa. They are chairing him.

Lord J. Yes, they are chairing him; and he has been chosen for his honourable conduct, not for his electioneering skill; for, to do him justice, Coriolanus himself was not a worse electioneerer.

Enter Rory O'Ryan and another Eton lad, carrying Talbot in a chair, followed by a crowd of Eton lads

Rory. By your lave, my lord – by your lave, ladies.

Omnes. Huzza! Talbot and truth for ever! Huzza!