_Maria._ Oh, dear! That's Tom. We have disturbed him. _Lucy._ No matter: let's try it again, softer. (_Chorus repeated. At its conclusion, enter_ TOM, R., _with a blanket wrapped about him, and a wet towel tied about his head. The girls scream, and run down_ R. _and_ L., _leaving him in_ C.) _Tom._ Oh, dear! how can you reasonably suppose that a young man can be comfortably sick with such a racket going on down here? Oh, my head, my head! my poor, poor head! _Bessie._ Oh, Tom, we're so sorry we disturbed you! _All_ (_in chorus_). Yes, indeed; awful! _Lucy._ Wouldn't have done it for the world, had we known you didn't like it. _All_ (_in chorus_). No, indeed, we wouldn't! _Tom._ Oh, yes! that's all very well, now the mischief's done. Why, you might drive me into a fever. _All_ (_in chorus_). Oh, that would be dreadful! _Tom._ You might—you might bring on convulsions, spasms, with such outrageous squalling. I'll complain of you! Where's my aunt? Where is my fond, affectionate relative? _Bessie._ She's gone out, Tom: gone to the doctor's. _Tom._ Eh? Gone out? Good! (_Throws off blanket, and tears towel from his head._) Thomas is himself again! _All_ (_in chorus_). Why, Tom! _Tom._ Because Tom is only homesick, girls. My good aunt would not give me time to explain that I was tired of school, eager to have a frolic, and so got leave of absence, and came home for a day. No: she caught the "sickness," and bundled me off to bed. I humored the joke, and laughed under the bedquilt. But no sooner was she out of the room, but I was out of bed, dressed myself, and here I am, ready for any thing in the way of sport you have to offer. How long will she be gone? _Bessie._ Perhaps half an hour. _Tom._ Then for half an hour we will enjoy ourselves. Come, girls, what shall it be? _Maria._ Oh! isn't this jolly? _Augusta._ Real nice! _Jane_ (_and others_). Splendid! Beautiful! _Augusta._ Let's play "Hide the Slipper." _Maria._ No: "Copenhagen." _Tom._ Any thing—every thing. The noisier the better. _Patience_ (_rising_). Stop! Young ladies, are you aware of the rules of this ed-ed-ucational institute? We have been sent here from our happy homes, to be se-se-quest_rated_ from contact with the ruder sex; and now you propose to indulge in games, childish games, for your amusement and ame-ame-amelioration. I am ashamed of you! I blush for you! _Tom_ (_aside to_ MARIA). Oh! that's one of the teachers. _Maria._ Hush! It's one of the girls. _Tom._ One of the girls? Why, she's old enough to be your mother! _Patience._ I shall not submit to the in-in-trusion of a young man upon our privacy. He must instantly leave the room.