MRS. L. What"s that you have, Kitty?
KITTY [_holding it up_]. It"s Lucy"s pocket.
MRS. L. What! Lucy"s pocket, that I made her this morning? What are you doing with it, Kitty?
KITTY. I"m sorry to say, Aunt Jane, that Lucy dropped it, and as I happened to be looking round me to see if I could be useful in any way I saw it and picked it up.
MRS. L. And what about the pence that were in it?
KITTY. They are not there. I"m very sorry, as I know people ought to be so careful of money. I always am.
[_Loud boo-hooing heard outside. Enter LUCY._
LUCY. I"ve lost my pocket! I"ve lost my pocket!
MRS. L. Oh, you careless girl! you may well cry. Luckily for you, Kitty Fisher found it.
LUCY. Oh, Kitty, did you? Oh, I am so glad. Give it to me quickly!
KITTY [_holding it back_]. Don"t you think, Aunt Jane, I had better have it? I am so careful of my things.
LUCY [_angry_]. No, you shan"t. You shan"t have my nice pocket.
[_Goes to her and drags it away. They fight._
MRS. L. You are not to fight. That is very wrong.
KITTY. Very wrong. I forgot myself, I am afraid.
MRS. L. Where are the pence you had in the pocket, Lucy?
[_LUCY boo-hoos again._
LUCY. Oh, mother, it must have come untied when I jumped about. I"m so dreadfully sorry. I shall never be happy again.
KITTY. No, of course you can"t feel happy as I do.
LUCY. Mother, do let me try once more; I really will be good.
MRS. L. Are you sure, Lucy? Will you really try?
LUCY. Yes, yes, I promise. I"ll be like a little girl in a book, who changes all of a sudden, and never does it again.
MRS. L. Very well, then, I"ll trust you with it once more.
KITTY. I"m a little surprised at you, aunt.
LUCY. And you"ll never tell me I"m to be as good as Kitty?
MRS. L. No, because you will be just as good without my telling you.
KITTY. Good-bye then, aunt, I don"t care to stay here if I"m of no use in setting an example to Lucy.
LUCY. I can do without your example, thank you.
KITTY. We shall see. But next time Lucy Locket loses her pocket Kitty Fisher will not find it.
[_They all sing "Lucy Locket," the curtain coming down on the last line._
[Ill.u.s.tration: 2. LUCY LOCKET.
Lucy Locket lost her pocket Kitty Fisher found it. Ne"er a penny was there in it save the binding round it.]
POLLY PUT THE KETTLE ON
CHARACTERS
MRS. SMILER MRS. BROWN MRS. JENNINGS POLLY MRS. CRABSTICK SUKEY
SCENE
_MRS. SMILER"S Cottage. A table C. half way up stage, four chairs round it arranged almost in a semi-circle, so that there is no one with back to audience. R. a stove on which to put kettle, etc. Dresser or table at back with cups and saucers, etc., on it._
MRS. S. Polly! Polly!
POLLY [_outside_]. Yes, ma"am. [_Enter POLLY. She is very small._
MRS. S. Now, Polly, this afternoon you must be my little maid.
POLLY. Yes, ma"am.
MRS. S. Do you think I can trust you?
POLLY. Yes, ma"am.
MRS. S. You see, Sukey hasn"t come in yet, and some people are coming to tea, so you must put the kettle on to boil, and make the tea when they come.
POLLY. Yes, ma"am.
MRS. S. Do you think you can?