stone with
oyster pearls, and not for me--I'd rather wait.

GEORGIANA. You have an eye out on the main chance, Bella.

BELLA. Well, I wasn't born yesterday. Say, all the girls was crazy about
him. I met him to dancing school Tuesday evenings at Adelphi Hall and we
started right in, every Sunday night to church and every Saturday to the
theatre. He enjoyed Sundays best and I Saturdays, but I felt it was
because church was cheapest. He's dreadful economical.

GEORGIANA. You get more attention than I do from my soldier. You at
least have the consolation of knowing you're the girl he's left behind.

BELLA. 'Tain't much consolation if I get left for _good_! Say, will you
ask Mr. Coleman to sort o' look after him? Ask him to please put him in
the back row when there's fighting--and keep an eye on his health. I'm
afraid it's dreadful _damp_ being a soldier; and do you know that man
actually catches cold if he forgets his rubbers and it sprinkles?

GEORGIANA. I don't think he ought to go if he's so delicate; Mr. Coleman
will take an interest in your friend, I know, if I ask him. What's his
name?

BELLA. Mr. Gootch.

GEORGIANA. _Mr. Gootch!_ Yes, I can remember that. But, you see, if he's
a soldier he must do his duty, whatever it is.

BELLA. There's no holding him back! He's jus' as likely as not to lose
his position at Snipleys, Crabford & Snipleys, too, but he _will_ go!
It's surprising to see a man with such a weak chest and delicate feet,
so awful brave and persistent.

LOUISE. [_Coming back._] I bore the children to death, so I left them.
What are all these bundles, Bella?

BELLA. Christmas presents. This is just the time of the year to buy, you
know, you can get such bargains! and if there's one thing I think
nicer'n anything else to get cheap, it's Christmas presents.

GEORGIANA. You should do like Mrs. Carley, Bella, save half of the
things you get one year to give away the next.

[_She sits by the table and goes on with her work._

LOUISE. I always do that. I get so many things I can't bear.

GEORGIANA. But you must be careful not to send them back to the same
place they came from! That _has_ happened.

LOUISE. Georgiana!

[BELLA _laughs out loud and sits on the sofa._ LOUISE _sits opposite_
GEORGIANA.

GEORGIANA. What have you got? Sit down and tell us.

BELLA. Thank you, ma'am. [_Delighted with the opportunity. Taking up the
different parcels._] Well, I've got an elegant pair of scissors for
m