_Mrs. T._ You would find it more absorbing, Pa, if you held it the right way up. You've been asleep! _Mr. T._ No, indeed, I only wish I--that is--I may have dropped off for a moment. _Charles (who has followed his Aunt)._ You wouldn't have had much chance of doing that if you'd been at Church, Uncle! _Mrs. T._ No, indeed. Mr. POWLES preached a most awakening discourse, which I am glad to find CHARLES appreciated. _Charles._ I meant the cushion in your pew, Uncle; you ought to have it restuffed. It's like sitting on a bag of mixed biscuits! _Mrs. T._ We do not go to Church to be _comfortable_, CHARLES. Pa, Mr. POWLES alluded very powerfully, from the pulpit, to the recent commercial disasters, and the sinfulness of speculation in professing Christians. I wish you could have heard him. _Mr. T. (squirming)._ A--a deprivation indeed, my love. But I was better at home--better at home. _Mrs. T._ You will have other opportunities; he announces a course of weekday addresses, at the Mission Rooms, on "The Thin End of the Wedge of Achan." CHARLES, I gave you one of the circulars to carry for me. Where is it? _Charles._ In my overcoat, I think, Aunt. Shall I go and get it? [ALTHEA _enters_. _Mrs. T._ Not now; I haven't my spectacles by me. THEA, did you tell PH[OE]BE to pack your trunk the first thing to-morrow? _Althea._ Yes, Mamma; but there is plenty of time. CECILIA doesn't expect me till the afternoon. _Charles._ So THEA's going up to town for a few days' spree, eh, Aunt CORNELIA? _Mrs. T. (severely)._ Your cousin is going on a visit to a married schoolfellow, who is her senior by two or three years, and who, I understand, was the most exemplary pupil Miss PRUINS ever had. I have no doubt Mrs. MERRIDEW will take ALTHEA to such entertainments as are fit and proper for her--picture-galleries, museums, concerts, possibly a lecture--but I should not describe that myself as a "spree." _Charles._ No more should I, Aunt, not by any means. _Mrs. T._ I never met this Mrs. MERRIDEW, but I was favourably impressed by the way she wrote. A very sensible letter. _Alth. (to herself)._ Except the postscript. But I didn't like to show Mamma that! _Charles._ But you'll go to a theatre or two, or a dance, or something, while you're with her, won't you? [ALTHEA _tries to signal to him to be silent_. _Mrs. T._ CHARLES, you forget where you are. A daughter of ours set foot in a playhouse! Surely you know your Uncle's objection to anything in the nature of a theatrical entertainment? Did he not write and threaten to resign the Vice-Presidency of the Lower Clapham Athenæum at the mere hint of a performance of scenes from some play by that dissolute writer SHERIDAN--even without costumes and scenery? His protest was most admirably worded. I remember I drafted it myself.