too! How very indelicate—in my girls' parlor! I must go and find them. (Starts out of door C.; finds note, comes forward in front of screen L. with it.) A note, too, evidently left by the same youths. (Sternly.) I must certainly read this. If there is anything wrong, I owe it to the young ladies and to their parents to investigate this matter. (Begins to read. Door C. opens softly, and Fred looks in. Not seeing her behind the screen, enters, beckoning Charlie, who also enters. They tiptoe down centre; business; grab dress-suit cases, when Miss Griffin sees them, and screams.)
Miss G. (indignantly). What does this mean, sirs?
Fred. We—we came back for—for our boxes.
Char. We—we forgot them.
Miss G. Oh, you forgot them. And where are you going now, pray, and who are you, anyway, young gentlemen?
Fred. Why, as we told you, we are Sammy Smith and Willie Warren, and we are going now to see our cousins.
Miss G. You are going to see whom?
Char. Yes'm. Our cousins. They are waiting for us now. And if you will excuse us, ma'am, we really must hurry.
Fred. Good-afternoon, ma'am. (Produces box of rouge.) Oh, here is something I think you dropped, ma'am. (Exit boys hurriedly, C.)
Miss G. Impudence! As if I used rouge with my complexion! (Surveys herself in mirror.) But what does this mean? Who are these Sammy Smiths and Willie Warrens? Going to see their cousins. Um! Then their cousins don‘t live here, evidently. I must examine this note; perhaps that will explain the mystery. (Opens note and reads hurriedly.) "Miss Griffin requests to see the Misses Goldthwaite and Courtenay in her room at seven o'clock promptly, in regard to their reprehensible conduct in corresponding with two strange young men under assumed names." Can it be my girls would do such a thing? I cannot believe it. And yet—what do these strange actions mean—these young men who don't know their own names, though they seem to have two apiece? (Looks at note.) They dared to use my name! "Love to the Griffin!" Preposterous! I shall look into this further. The young ladies shall receive a duplicate of this scandalous note—a genuine one this time, from myself. And we shall see— (Stops suddenly. Enter Gladys and Kittie, R., with tea-tray, cakes, tea, olives, etc., which they place on table, L. U. E.)
Gla. Why, where are— (Looks about wonderingly.)
Kit. (aside). Sh!
Miss G. (coldly). Good-evening, young ladies. I fear I came before you were ready to receive me. It is earlier than you asked me to come, I know. But I only came to tell you that I have other and very important business this afternoon which will detain me until the reception, so I cannot, as I promised, take tea with you and your—relatives, who are evidently not here at present. You will excuse me, I am sure. (Bows stiffly, and exit, C.)
