_Mrs. D._ An auctioneer! do you want to insult me? _Pollie._ Insult you, the ch-ch-champion of our s-s-s-sex? N-n-never! B-b-but an auc-sh-sh-shuneer I must be. G-g-going, g-g-going, g-g-gone. Oh, it's splendid! How much am I offered? St-st-stove, t-t-table, ch-chair, in one l-l-lot. H-h-how much? G-g-going, g-going— _Mrs. H._ (Kee.) _Pollie._ G-g-gone! Thank you, marm. _Mrs. D._ Woman, leave this house at once! _Pollie._ What f-f-for? Ain't you the ch-ch-champion of our s-s-sex? D-d-didn't you s-s-say we were f-f-f-fitted to t-t-take the place of m-m-man? and ain't I g-g-going to be an auc-sh-shuneer, hey? _Mrs. D._ You are fit for nothing but the workhouse. Instantly leave this room, or I will have you driven into the street. _Pollie._ Ch-ch-champion of our s-s-sex! P-p-pooh! You're an imp-p-postor: you d-d-deceive us with your sp-p-peeches. If you don't make me an auc-sh-sh-shuneer, I'll d-denounce you,—yes, I will, now, at once. I'm g-g-going, g-g-going, g-gone. [_Exit_, R. _Mrs. D._ Was there ever any thing so provoking? It's the work of our enemies. _Mrs. H._ No, 'tain't, Hannah: it's a nat'ral impediment. _Mrs. D._ Mother, shut up! _Mrs. H._ Wal, I never! Is that the way you honor your parent? (Kee.) _Mrs. D._ It seems I am to be made a laughing-stock for my speech. Could I have been too hasty? (_Enter_ FLORENCE, R.) _Mrs. D._ Goodness, child! you home again? (_Rises._) _Florence_ (_tragically_). Stop! Approach me not. Busy rumor, with its thousand tongues, says, last night you asserted, in a crowded assembly, that woman could achieve success in any path trodden by man. I come to you for truth. Speak, mother! did you speak those words? is rumor true? _Mrs. D._ I did say so, _Florence._ _Florence_ (_lightly_). Then, my good mother, you will be delighted to hear that your daughter has chosen the profession in which she hopes to win fame. I want to be a lawyer. _Mrs. H._ Lor sakes! _Mrs. D._ Florence, you are trifling with a serious matter. _Florence._ Yes, 'tis a serious matter. But I feel that in that profession I can win success. "Gentlemen of the jury, I stand before you to plead the cause of a young girl, who needs all your sympathy. She was the idol of fond parents; but, alas! her mother died: her father took to his side a second bride, and she was neglected. Not content with this, on his death-bed the father cut her off from any share of his wealth, and left to the mercy of her step-mother." _Mrs. D._ Florence, what means this?