ELIZABETH ELIZA.- Very likely it was not the same one.
MOTHER.- Did he have a kind of pepper-and-salt suit, with one of the buttons worn?
MRS.PETERKIN.- I noticed one of the buttons was off.
AMANDA.- We're off the subject.Did you buy his book?
ELIZABETH ELIZA.- He never offered us his book.
MRS.PETERKIN.- He told us the same story,-we were going to Providence; if we wanted to go to Boston, we must turn directly round.
ELIZABETH ELIZA.- I told him I couldn't; but he took the horse's head, and the first thing I knew- AMANDA.- He had yanked you round!
MRS.PETERKIN.- I screamed; I couldn't help it!
ELIZABETH ELIZA.- I was glad when it was over!
MOTHER.- Well, well; it shows the disadvantage of starting wrong.
MRS.PETERKIN.- Yes, we came straight enough when the horse was headed right; but we lost time.
ELIZABETH ELIZA.- I am sorry enough I lost the exhibition, and seeing you take the diploma, Amanda.I never got the diploma myself.I came near it.
MRS.PETERKIN.- Somehow, Elizabeth Eliza never succeeded.Ithink there was partiality about the promotions.
ELIZABETH ELIZA.- I never was good about remembering things.I studied well enough, but, when I came to say off my lesson, I couldn't think what it was.Yet I could have answered some of the other girls' questions.
JULIA.- It's odd how the other girls always have the easiest questions.
ELIZABETH ELIZA.- I never could remember poetry There was only one thing I could repeat.
AMANDA.- Oh, do let us have it now; and then we'll recite to you some of our exhibition pieces.
ELIZABETH ELIZA.- I'll try.
MRS.PETERKIN.- Yes, Elizabeth Eliza, do what you can to help entertain Amanda's friends.
[All stand looking at ELIZABETH ELIZA, who remains silent and thoughtful.] ELIZABETH ELIZA.- I'm trying to think what it is about.You all know it.You remember, Amanda,-the name is rather long.
AMANDA.- It can't be Nebuchadnezzar, can it?-that is one of the longest names I know.
ELIZABETH ELIZA.- O dear, no!
JULIA.- Perhaps it's Cleopatra.
ELIZABETH ELIZA.- It does begin with a "C"-only he was a boy.
AMANDA.- That's a pity, for it might be " We are seven," only that is a girl.
Some of them were boys.
ELIZABETH ELIZA.- It begins about a boy-if I could only think where he was.I can't remember.
AMANDA.- Perhaps he "stood upon the burning deck?"ELIZABETH ELIZA.- That's just it; I knew he stood somewhere.
AMANDA.- Casabianca! Now begin-go ahead.
ELIZABETH ELIZA.- "The boy stood on the burning deck, When-When-"I can't think who stood there with him JULIA.- If the deck was burning, it must have been on fire.I guess the rest ran away, or jumped into boats.
AMANDA.- That's just it:- "Whence all but him had fled."ELIZABETH ELIZA.- I think I can say it now.
"The boy stood on the burning deck,Whence all but him had fled-"[She hesitates.] Then I think he went- JULIA.- Of course, he fled after the rest.
AMANDA.- Dear, no! That's the point.He didn't.
"The flames rolled on, he would not goWithout his father's word."ELIZABETH ELIZA.- O yes.Now I can say it.
"The boy stood on the burning deck,Whence all but him had fled; The flames rolled on, he would not goWithout his father's word."But it used to rhyme.I don't know what has happened to it.
MRS.PETERKIN.- Elizabeth Eliza is very particular about the rhymes.
ELIZABETH ELIZA.- It must be "without his father's head," or, perhaps, "without his father said" he should.
JULIA.- I think you must have omitted something.
AMANDA.- She has left out ever so much!
MOTHER.- Perhaps it's as well to omit some, for the ice-cream has come, and you must all come down.
AMANDA.- And here are the rest of the girls; and let us all unite in a song!
[Exeunt omnes, singing.]
