draws back)_

{Gil.} _(stops Gun. and Izod)_ My successor, _(taking
Gun's hand)_ God bless you, man. May you be
happier in my shoes than I have been. _(Gun hiccoughs)_
Confound you, you're not sober.

{Gun.} Milk!

_(Music. Curtain falls quickly.)_

ACT II. -- THE SIREN.

Scene:--An old-fashioned, comfortable, oak-panelled
room. The furniture dark and cumbersome.
Down stage R., a door. Up stage, R., C, capacious
fireplace, with solid mantel-piece above it. At
back R., and L., two substantial casement windows.
The windows are in deep recesses, about two steps
above the stage level. These recesses are sheltered
by heavy draperies. Between the windows,
up stage, C., a massive bureau, opened, with
writing materials upon it. Before bureau a square
stool. On L., of bureau a chair. Up stage L., a
door. Below door L., a settee; above settee, a
bell rope. Before fire a comfortable arm-chair;
L. of arm-chair, a small table with a reading lamp
upon it. On mantel-piece, a clock to strike; other
articles of furniture, etc., to fill spaces. The
flooring of dark oak, square carpeting R., of stage.
The whole to produce the effect of "a woman's
room" Curtains closed, L. window unfastened.
See written letter on bureau. All gas out behind.
Gas one-half up inside. Music for act drop.

It is night time--no moon. The lighting to be
sombre throughout the act.

_(Before the curtain rises Felicity's voice is heard
singing off R.)_

There's a jingle to make a maiden glad
And flush the skies above her,
The clink of the spurs of her soldier lad,
"I am a faithful lover."

Sun is shining, flow'rs are blooming,
Light and bloom are not for aye;
What if sob and sigh are looming,
Hear the jingle while you may!

CURTAIN.

There's a jingle to make a maiden glad,
etc.

_(Kate enters at close of song--puts keys on table.)_

{Kate.} _(leans over back of arm-chair--listening)_
Poor little bird, singing of her soldier lover. How
am I to tell her that her soldier's heart is not of so
bright a colour as his jacket? How can I tell her,
when there is another soldier lover in the world so
good and so true? _(sits R., of table--she opens her
locket; it contains a likeness of Eric)_ Eric! Ah!
the man who painted this miniature hasn't done Eric
justice; the face is too white and pink, and