ecessary----

_Harry._ Necessary?

_Dolly._ Yes--you see the chief item----

_Harry._ [_Reads._] Chinchilla toque, coat, muff and boa--eighty
guineas--eighty guineas----

_Dolly._ I got them as a surprise for you when we go South next week.

_Harry._ Surprise! Great heavens! What in the name of all----

_Matt._ Shush, Harry! Her motive was a good one. She got it to please
you!

_Dolly._ You haven't seen it yet, it's just outside--I've a great mind
to give you a great New Year's treat and let you see it on!

_Harry._ I'm not going to be sweedled----

_Matt._ Hush! Harry! Let her put it on! Let's have a look at it, and see
whether it's worth the money. Put it on, Doll. [_Exit_ DOLLY.

_Harry._ [_Calls after her._] I tell you I'm not going to be
sweedled!----

_Matt._ What is sweedled?

_Harry._ Sweedling is sweedling! It's part swindling and part wheedling!
It's what every d--ee--d good-natured husband like me has to go through,
when he's fool enough to put up with it!

_Matt._ Well, old boy, you'll have to pay, you know; it will come to
that in the end.

_Harry._ I'm not going to be sweedled----

_Matt._ And if Dolly has been a little extravagant, I must help her out
with it to-morrow morning!

_Harry._ No, we'll go into it thoroughly to-night.

_Matt._ No, Harry, we won't. My room is just above here. Besides, the
cook is going to give us a special New Year dinner, and I want to enjoy
it. This New Year we'll start with a comfortable evening, please!

DOLLY _enters at back in a very handsome Chinchilla coat._ HARRY
_looks a little sulky. She stands in the middle of the room and
displays it._

_Dolly._ Well? [_He looks at it rather sulkily, walks away; she follows
him._] Well? [Walking after him.] Well? Well?

[_Displaying the furs._]

[_He turns, looks at her, she stands and holds out her arms._

_Harry._ Oh, hang it all! [_Takes her in his arms and kisses her._]
There!

_Dolly._ [_Kissing him heartily._] And there! [_Another kiss._] And
there! [_Another kiss._] And there! [_Catches sight of the collecting
box, goes to it, furiously sweeps it off its table on to the floor._]
AND THERE!

CURTAIN.

* * * * *

Transcriber's note

The following changes have been made to the text:

Page 7: "The Afternoon" changed to "The afternoon".

Page 12: "thirt-four, seven" changed to "thirty-four, sev