Page:Hallowe'en festivities (1903).djvu/36

32 in going to the attic or cellar, whichever you prefer, and eating an apple before the glass. Suppose Agnes goes first.

Ah, ha! No, you don't, my dear. Send Miss Bruce.

[sweetly]. Why, I don't mind in the least. [''Picks up an apple from a dish on table and disappears. Each girl save follows suit and the men depart also.'']

Well, Agnes, I hope you are perfectly satisfied with your night's work. Perhaps you will try the water charm [ironically] now that the men have departed and you are quite sure of being safe. Indeed, I think you could walk about the house half the night without fear of being molested. [Fans herself indignantly.]

[gaily]. Under those circumstances I think I'll try it. It is a lovely moonlight night, so here goes. [Takes up a glass and fills her mouth with water, waves her hand at Mrs. B. and departs through front door.]

[to, who has just entered room]. Benedict, I intend to wash my hands of Agnes Hunt after to-night. She simply won't marry herself and won't let any one else. There are half a dozen eligible men dangling around her, who would turn their attention to the other girls if she were only married. Now just look how she has spoiled this evening. She got wind of our little scheme, and purposely invited all those girls here.

Well, my dear, you certainly can not accuse her in this instance of monopolizing the men.

Benedict, don't wilfully misconstrue my meaning. You know very well both of those men, if they are not with her already philandering in the garden, want to be.

[laughing softly]. I doubt it, my dear. I just passed the conservatory and saw the heads of Charley Legree and little Miss Bruce very close together; and as for Mary Willowby and Everett Evans, they are walking around the attic arm in arm utterly oblivious to their surroundings.

[tearfully], There—it is just as I knew it would be. That silly little Ethel Bruce and that horse-marine of a Mary Willowby have deliberately walked off with those two