Page 525 - The model orator, or, Young folks' speaker : containing the choicest recitations and readings from the best authors for schools, public entertainments, social gatherings, Sunday schools, etc. : including recitals in prose and verse ...

D itto {laughing).— I, Mlss H aver w ay? In me behold your very
humble servant. These gentlemen, conservative citizens of Kettle-
ville, all except niy friend Ponder here, I regret to say, have been
making rare fools of themselves. They met for the prq^osterous pur­
pose of devising some way of preventing you from lecturing this
evening. T o learn their plans, and, at the same time, to have some
fun oil my own account, I pretended to be one of the conspirators,
and it is only now that I throw off the mask, and declare to them and
to you that the booby who lifts a voice or a hand to prevent your
lecturing, as you propose, will have to measure arms in set pugilistic
encounter with your true knight to command, M r. Frederick Ditto.
Miss H .— W ho says the days of chivalry are gone ? Sir, I thank you.
D r cto.— I have but one demand to make of these gentlemen, and that
is, that they -all attend your lecture. M r. Ponder will come, I know.
Pon d er.— That was m y intention from the first.
Miss H . (to Bodkins).— Y ou will com e, sir? (As he Imitates, she
lifts her roll.)
Bodkins,’— Really—-Oh, yes, I'll com e. Shall be most happy.
('Examining her collar,) Real point lace, 1 dcclare !
Miss H. {to T in ctu re ),— And you, sir?
T incture.— U nless my patients—
M jss H.— No excuse, sir.
T incture.-— I will com e. (Aside?) I wish I could prescribe for
her just once.
M iss H . {to M opkr).— Y ou will follow their example, sir, of course?
Mopek,— E xcu se me, but— (seeing- her roH leveled at him)— T will
not fail, madame, to be present,
Miss H.— I thought so.
D itto ,— Allow me to escort you, Miss Haverway, to your hotel,
Mr, Pondei', will you join us ? (P o n d er bows assent?)
[ As the three go off right, Mias II. turns and goes toward the others
with roll extended, when B o tk in s, T in c tu re and M oper go off
abruptly on the left. Exeunt Omnes?\
E pes S a r g e n t .