EXETER.

Precious time

Is passing-promise me one boon, at least-
If not forgiveness, silence. She whom I loathe-
Whom I must wed-will soon be here-

MARY (staggering forward.)

O, God! O, God!

ELIZABETH.

Is here!

What have you heard? whate'er

I said I am prepared to reavow.
No plotter I-no spier out of plots!

O, God! O, God!

MARY.

ELIZABETH.

I spake in haste-forgive me! My poor, poor sister! only be calm and hear me. Nay, pluck not at your throat-stare not so wildly! Will no one fetch some water? she will choke.

MARY.

What's this? where am I? the earth reels-the wind
Howls through my ears-your hand, Sir, or I fall!
Elizabeth! you weep-something has happened—
What? what? Has any one assailed my life?

My brain is wounded.

GARDINER (aside.)

We must change her thoughts

Or she will straight go mad. I bring, my liege,

False Dudley's pardon.

MARY.

Ha!-a pardon-Dudley

Yes, I remember. Give it-quickly, quickly—
Give it-Thus, thus, like my poor heart, rend thee!
I crush thee! Thou shalt die-O pandering Fiend!
There was another paper-give it to me-
Warrant of doom!-a pen-there-let him die-

[Signs the warrant. Stabber of hearts!—ere sunset. Hear ye? vengeance! A vulture gnaws my heart-food, food for vengeance!

Soft: there was yet another-where is he?
And she, my loving sister-Boleyn's child!-
Seize on the false ones!

GARDINER.

She is innocent.

ELIZABETH.

My Lord, I pray you, peace.

MARY.

Who dares oppose me?

Obey me, Sir-or-or-obstruct me not-
Or I will do such deeds as shall make pale
The Angel of the Record! Ha! still here-

Thou wretched, wretched man! yet, let me look

One moment on the face I loved.

[She catches EXETER's arm, gazes wistfully in his face, then suddenly kisses his forehead.

Passion's last weakness! I am weak no more!
Henceforth I root all softness from my heart.
Away with him-with her!

The last

[Exeunt ELIZABETH and Exeter, severally, in custody. Enter PAGE, bearing a cup.

What's this? some wine?

Ay-let me taste-I need it-I am faint.

I take this as a sacramental pledge!
Henceforth am I a dedicated creature

[She lifts the cup.

To my country; to my God! I rend all weakness
Forth from my bleeding heart. Nor kin, nor love
Shall warp me. If I live, I'll rule this land

For pious ends severe, not happiness

For duty-for my People, for the Church!

[She drinks, making the sign of the Cross. The Church for England! England for the Church!

[Exeunt.

Ten Little Bachelors

BY SAM S. STINSON.

Ten little bachelors said: "This life for mine."
One tied a maiden's shoe, then there were nine.

Nine little bachelors swore the girls to hate.
One did protest too much, then there were eight.

Eight little bachelors thought their life was heaven.
One had another thought, then there were seven.

Seven little bachelors, up to Cupid's tricks.
One took a buggy ride, then there were six.

Six little bachelors, glad they were alive.
One fell dead in love, then there were five.

Five little bachelors went off to the war.

A trained nurse captured one, then there were four.

Four little bachelors cowboys went to be.

One got roped in, then there were three.

Three little bachelors came home feeling blue.
A show girl abducted one, then there were two.

Two little bachelors wondered how 'twas done.
Investigation showed one, then there was one.

One little bachelor, lonely, tossed a penny.

"Heads I wed." The coin came head, then there wasn't any.

Boniface, a servant. Eglantine, daughter of Damoiseau.

SCENE. A small room opening on a garden. In each corner a table—a vase of flowers on the one to the right, and a lamp on the one to the left. Door at the rear. Second door at the right, first entrance. Third and fourth doors at left, first and second entrance. Right, a window. Above the table on the right a trophy of weapons, in which is a gun. Left, towards the front, a table with magazines, paper, pens and ink. Right, a sofa, and a tabouret, on which is a work-basket and a bell.

Enter EGLANTINE.

EGLANTINE (seated near the table and reading a magazine). Reading this magazine doesn't amuse me! I'll give it up! (She throws the magazine on the table and arises). Oh, dear me, I'm so bored! (She goes to the sofa, sits down, and looks at the flowers in the vase.) Flowers four days old! What can Boniface be thinking of? (She rings, Boniface comes in from the rear, a letter in his hand.) Boniface, change those flowers.

BONIFACE. Yes'm. (Goes to the table.) Ah-is your father here, Miss Eglantine?

EG. (rising quickly). Isn't it a caller, Boniface?
BON. It's only a letter, miss.

EG. (impatiently). A letter! That's all the intercourse my father has! Everything by correspondence! (She sits down.)

BON. (sighing). Ah, yes! All three years that he's been deaf Mr. Damoiseau won't see anybody. (Throws out the flowers.)

EG.

Oh, I'm so bored, Boniface so bored!

BON. (cleaning the lamp chimney). And me, miss, poor me that Mr. Damoiseau took into his service when the misfortune came on him, on account of my vocal organs, here I'm obliged to chat with him every day! (Bitterly.) Chat! I call that chatting. That is to say, I bellow out a mysterious question to him, and I roar a timid question. What a life! what a life!

EG. But that celebrated ear specialist to whom he wrote a month ago, what about him?

How will this all

BON. He hasn't even answered. end? As for me, I know one thing-after six months' time I'll talk like a clown in a pantomime. My voice gets hollerer and hollerer.

EG. (laughing). Ha! ha! ha!

BON. There ain't nothing laughable in that, miss.

EG. But it's so seldom that I have a chance to laugh. Look at me, nineteen years old, literally immured—

BON. It would be hard for me in your place, I tell you. Why, I have such violent passions-! If I had been you-! Oh!

EG. Father seems to have positively resolved that I shall not marry. It's too bad that five or six attractive men whom I really like have already asked for my hand, and he has refused every one of them!

BON. Yes, he always says: "He's not the son-in-law I've dreamed of "-his very words! What on earth has he dreamed of for a son-in-law?

EG. Oh, I don't know! And consequently no one. dares to ask any more; they know they will be refused. It will be just the same with that young man with whom I danced the whole evening a month ago at Mrs. Fauvel's ball.

BON. Oh, yes; you've spoken of him lots of times. A fine young man; and I think if he asks for your handEG. (rising, going to the left). I know he thought of that, by the way he looked at me, by the attentions he paid me; but he must have heard of the answer which awaits him. He has been informed! (Stamping.) Oh, I'm so bored, Boniface, so bored!

BON. (aside). It's high time she should be. (Aloud.) Oh, here he comes. What did I do with his letter? Oh, here it is! (He picks it up from table at right where he had put it. Damoiseau enters by second door at left.)