_Helen (rising)._ Excuse me. We three decline to vote, so there is no quorum. The question is before the House still, and can be spoken to. _Dennis._ How badly the question must feel. _Amy._ Not half so badly as you ought to. _Mrs. W. (pounding)._ Order! The dignity of the chair must be upheld! _Rose._ Then why don’t you hold it up? We’ve no objection. _Amy (rising)._ Mr. Speaker— _Mrs. W._ The honourable member from—from— _George._ Philadelphia? [_Passes_ AMY _the chocolates from tea-table_. _Amy (sinking faintly into chair)._ Oh, not so bad as that! _Mrs. W._ Very well—from the slough of despair— _Amy._ Mr. Speaker, I rise from my slough of despair to demand, with a tear in my eye— _Dennis._ And a chocolate in your mouth— _Mrs. W. (pounds)._ Order!— _Amy._ To vindicate myself— _George._ Well, if you’re going to rise, why don’t you do it? _Mrs. W. (crossing to tea-table, and seizing hot water pot.)_ I shall pour the hot water on the next person who interrupts the honourable gentleman. _Amy._ To vindicate myself and my compeers in the—alas!—opposition. We have remained silent under the slur of malice—we have watched the arbitrary and—(I fear corrupt is an unparliamentary word)—ah—questionable rulings of the presiding officer. But, so saith the adage, “Even the worm will turn;” and why not woman? So when we hear the distinguished and courteous stranger, about to enter our sacred portals, maligned and sneered at—then—then do we turn upon the “allegators” and declare, that as soon as the shadow of his “gracious”—no—I mean “early” presence darkens these halls of misrule, then, with one accord, for better, for worse, we will cleave to him. _Feminine Omnes._ We will. _Rose._ Now, boys, you see what you have done! and, as you remarked a moment ago, “Don’t say we didn’t warn you.” [_Bell rings._ _Mrs. W._ There, young people,—that is the dressing bell. Now don’t loiter, for I shall frown on any one who is not in the drawing-room five minutes before seven. I declare this sitting adjourned. [_All rise._ MRS. W. _crosses back and exits r. d._ ROSE _comes down c. and whispers to_ AMY; _they laugh, put their hands behind each other’s waists, and skip up r._ _Rose and Amy (singing)._ “Johnny, get your gun, get your sword, get your pistol. Johnny, get your gun, get your gun, get your gun.” [_Exit r. d. Men all laugh heartily._ _Helen (rapping on table in imitation of Mrs. W.)._ Order! Order! _George._ Cash! [_Men all laugh._ HELEN _looks at them scornfully and then exits r. d._ DENNIS _starts to follow_. _George._ What’s your hurry, Dennis? Lots of time. [_Sits._ _Steven (reseating himself)._ I bless my governing star every night that it was given to my sex to dress in the time spent by t’otherest in doing up its back hair.