A SCENE FROM DAVID COPPERFIELD.

CHARACTERS.

OLD FISHERMAN PEGGOTTY,

HAM PEGGOTTY,

DAVID COPPERFIELD.

_Introduction_.--The scene is the interior of the "Old Ark"; the time is evening. The rain is falling outside, yet inside the old ark all is snug and comfortable. The fire is burning brightly on the hearth, and Mother Gummidge sits by it knitting. Ham has gone out to fetch little Em'ly home from her work,--and the old fisherman sits smoking his evening pipe by the table near the window. They are expecting Steerforth and Copperfield in to spend the evening. Presently a knock is heard and David enters. Old Peggotty gets up to greet him.

_Old Peg_.--Why! It's Mas'r Davy? Glad to see you, Mas'r Davy, you're the first of the lot! Take off that cloak of yours if it's wet and draw right up to the fire. Don't you mind Mawther Gummidge, Mas'r Davy; she's a-thinkin' of the old 'un. She allers do be thinkin of the old 'un when there's a storm a-comin' up, along of his havin' been drowned at sea.

Well, now, I must go and light up accordin' to custom. (_He lights a candle and puts it on the table by the window_.) Theer we are! Theer we are! A-lighted up accordin' to custom. Now, Mas'r Davy, you're a-wonderin'

what that little candle is for, ain't yer? Well, I'll tell yer. It's for my little Em'ly. You see, the path ain't o'er light or cheerful arter dark, so when I'm home here along the time that Little Em'ly comes home from her work, I allers lights the little candle and puts it there on the table in the winder, and it serves two purposes,--first, Em'ly sees it and she says: "Theer's home," and likewise, "Theer's Uncle," fur if I ain't here I never have no light showed. Theer! Now you're laughin' at me, Mas'r Davy! You're a sayin' as how I'm a babby. Well, I don't know but I am.

(_Walks towards table_.) Not a babby to look at, but a babby to consider on. A babby in the form of a Sea Porky-pine.

See the candle sparkle! I can hear it say--"Em'ly's lookin' at me! Little Em'ly's comin'!" Right I am for here she is! (_He goes to the door to meet her; the door opens and Ham comes staggering in_.)

_Ham_.--She's gone! Her that I'd a died fur, and will die fur even now! She's gone!

_Peggotty_.--Gone!!

_Ham_.--Gone! She's run away! And think how she's run away when I pray my good and gracious G.o.d to strike her down dead, sooner than let her come to disgrace and shame.

_Peggotty_.--Em'ly gone! I'll not believe it. I must have proof--proof.

_Ham_.--Read that writin'.

_Peggotty_.--No! I won't read that writin'--read it you, Mas'r Davy.

Slow, please. I don't know as I can understand.

_David_.--(_Reads_) "When you see this I shall be far away."

_Peggotty_.--Stop theer, Mas'r Davy! Stop theer! Fur away! My Little Em'ly fur away! Well?

_David_.--(_Reads_) "Never to come back again unless he brings me back a lady. Don't remember, Ham, that we were to be married, but try to think of me as if I had died long ago, and was buried somewhere. My last love and last tears for Uncle."

_Peggotty_.--Who's the man? What's his name? I want to know the man's name.

_Ham_.--It warn't no fault of yours, Mas'r Davy, that I know.

_Peggotty_.--What! You don't mean his name's Steerforth, do you?

_Ham_.--Yes! His name is Steerforth, and he's a cursed villain!

_Peggotty_.--Where's my coat? Give me my coat! Help me on with it, Mas'r Davy. Now bear a hand theer with my hat.

_David_.--Where are you going, Mr. Peggotty?

_Peggotty_.--I'm a goin' to seek fur my little Em'ly. First, I'm going to stave in that theer boat and sink it where I'd a drownded him, as I'm a living soul; if I'd a known what he had in him! I'd a drownded him, and thought I was doin' right! Now I'm going to seek fur my Little Em'ly throughout the wide wurrety!

A SCENE FROM THE SHAUGHRAUN.

_Introduction_.--This scene introduces the following characters:--Conn, the Shaughraun, a reckless, devil-may-care, true-hearted young vagabond, who is continually in a sc.r.a.pe from his desire to help a friend and his love of fun; his mother, Mrs. O'Kelly; his sweetheart, Moya Dolan, niece of the parish priest.

It is evening. Moya is alone in the kitchen. She has just put the kettle on the fire when Mrs. O'Kelly, Conn's mother, enters.

_Mrs. O'K_.--Is it yourself, Moya? I've come to see if that vagabond of mine has been around this way.

_Moya_.--Why should he be here, Mrs. O'Kelly? Hasn't he a home of his own?

_Mrs. O'K_.--The Shebeen is his home when he is not in jail. His father died o' drink, and Conn will go the same way.

_Moya_.--I thought your husband was drowned at sea?

_Mrs. O'K_.--And bless him, so he was.

_Moya_.--Well, that's a quare way o' dying o' drink.

_Mrs. O'K_.--The best of men he was, when he was sober--a betther never drhawed the breath o' life.

_Moya_.--But you say he never was sober.

_Mrs. O'K_.--Niver! An' Conn takes afther him!

_Moya_.--Mother, I'm afeared I shall take afther Conn.

_Mrs. O'K_.--Heaven forbid, and purtect you agin him! You a good dacent gurl, and desarve the best of husbands.

_Moya_.--Them's the only ones that gets the worst. More betoken yoursilf, Mrs. O'Kelly.

_Mrs. O'K_.--Conn niver did an honest day's work in his life--but dhrinkin' and fishin', an' shootin', an' sportin', and love-makin'.

_Moya_.--Sure, that's how the quality pa.s.s their lives.

_Mrs. O'K_.--That's it. A poor man that sports the sowl of a gintleman is called a blackguard.

(_At this moment Conn appears in the doorway_.)

_Conn_.--(_At left_.) Some one is talkin' about me! Ah, Moya, Darlin', come here. (_Business as if he reached out his hands to Moya as he comes forward to meet her, and pa.s.ses her over to his left so he seems to stand in center between Moya on left and Mrs. O'Kelly on right_.) Was the old Mother thryin' to make little o' me? Don't you belave a word that comes out o' her! She's jealous o' me. (_Laughing as he shakes his finger at his mother_.) Yes, ye are! You're chokin' wid it this very minute! Oh, Moya darlin', she's jealous to see my two arms about ye. But she's proud o' me. Oh, she's proud o' me as an old him that's got a duck for a chicken. Howld your whist now Mother! Wipe your mouth and give me a kiss.