[Ill.u.s.tration: 1. THE CAT AND THE FIDDLE.

Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle, the cow jump'd over the moon the little dog laughed to see such sport, and the dish ran away with the spoon.]

LUCY LOCKET

CHARACTERS

MRS. LOCKET LUCY, her daughter KITTY FISHER, her niece

Produced at St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, during the Christmas season of 1921, with the following cast:

_Mrs. Locket_: SYBIL THORNDIKE _Lucy Locket_: MARY Ca.s.sON _Kitty Fisher_: ANN Ca.s.sON

SCENE

_MRS. LOCKET'S Drawing Room. Small table L. with workbox, etc., on it.

R.C. armchair L. of table. L.C. higher chair. MRS. LOCKET on armchair, sewing; LUCY on higher chair, swinging her legs._

MRS. L. Oh dear, I never thought I should have such a careless child.

LUCY. Why didn't you think so, mother?

MRS. L. Because I was so very tidy myself when I was a little girl--just like your Cousin Kitty. Oh, why are you not like her!

LUCY. I do think Kitty is so boring.

MRS. L. My dear child! How wrong to say such a thing of your cousin.

LUCY. But, mother, you always say I'm to tell the truth. So as she is boring, I must say so.

MRS. L. It's wrong to be bored by people who are good. Kitty is so tidy, so careful about everything: so unlike you. You're so heedless I can't even send you to the village shop for me.

LUCY. Oh, mother do let me go to the shop for you. I'm sure I could.

MRS. L. I do want two pennorth of pepper, but I can't trust you to get it. I'm sure you would lose the pennies.

LUCY. No, no. I would hold them tightly in my hand. You see, I haven't a pocket in this frock. That's one reason why I lose things.

MRS. L. That is true, and I have made you a nice little pocket to tie on, in hopes it will make you more careful.

LUCY. Oh, mother, what a darling pocket, and what a pretty binding!

MRS. L. Yes, I've just sewn it on. [_LUCY ties it on round her waist._

LUCY. Do give me the two pennies, and I'll put them into the pocket.

MRS. L. Take care that bow doesn't slip. You've tied it very loosely.

Oh, here is your cousin Kitty.

_Enter KITTY_

KITTY. Good morning, Aunt Jane.

MRS. L. Good morning, my child, and how is my good little girl this morning?

KITTY. Very well, thank you, aunt, and I feel very happy, too.

LUCY. So do I. [_Looking proudly at her pocket._

KITTY. Ah, but not for the same reason, I fear. I feel happy because I am so very good. I'm so tidy and careful, and I never forget anything.

LUCY. How dull that must be!

MRS. L. Oh, my dear Lucy. Don't say that! Ask Kitty to tell you how she does it, while I go and write my letters. [_Goes out._

LUCY. No, don't tell me anything about it, Kitty. Look at my new pocket.

KITTY. I hope you won't lose it. I never lose anything.

LUCY. Oh, then, you do miss a lot of excitement! When I'm going out I have to rush about looking for my things, and it is so thrilling when I see my shoe far back under the bed, or my handkerchief in the coal-scuttle.

KITTY. Oh, Lucy, how much better it would be if your shoes were tidily side by side! You shock me. I always put my things where they ought to be, and then I find them again at once.

LUCY. Well, I wish you wouldn't, then, and put it into my mother's head.

She's always wanting me to do the same.

KITTY. You must try, Lucy. Try as hard as you can, and perhaps some day you will grow up like me.

LUCY. I hope I shan't. [_Makes a face at her._

KITTY. Oh, how distressing! I never make a face.

LUCY. Now I'm going out to shop for mother.

[_Jumps round room and goes out._

KITTY [_looking after her_]. Oh, poor girl, how I pity her! What is that I see on the ground over there? [_Goes out and brings in LUCY'S pocket._] Why, I believe this is Lucy's pocket! Dear, dear, how careless of her! What a good thing I was there ready to pick it up.

[_Feels in bag._] Nothing in it. Ha! there's something. No, it's only the binding round it. Dear, dear, she has lost the money too! I must go and find my aunt and take it to her.

[_Enter MRS. L., KITTY ostentatiously holding bag so that MRS. L.

may see it._