_Chris._ When a little farm we keep, And have little girls and boys, With little pigs and sheep, To make a little noise---- Oh! what happy, merry days we'll see! _Ul._ Then we'll keep a little maid, And a little man beside; And a little horse and pad, To take a little ride, With the children sitting on our knee. _Chris._ The boys I'll conduct, _Ul._ The girls I'll instruct; _Chris._ In reading I'll engage, Each son is not deficient; _Ul._ In music I presage, Each girl is a proficient. _Chris._ Now, boy, your A, B, C! _Ul._ Now, girl, your solfa! [_Ulrica is supposed to teach a girl to sing, and Christopher to teach a boy to read._] _Both._ When a little farm we keep, &c. _Chris._ Charming! delightful! _Ul._ Very! only you forget one thing: you forget we are both locked up; and if aunt finds us together, it will make bad so much worse. Mercy on me! how could you get in here? _Chris._ Mercy on me! how am I to get out here? and my time's up with the count! _Ul._ What count? _Chris._ Why, mother, who formerly got this ungrateful aunt made housekeeper to old count Roland, you know, has lately got me into the young count's retinue; and he is killing game in the neighbouring woods, and I'm (_noise of unlocking the door_) killed myself! Oh, Lord! there's only one chance: aunt cant know me--she has'nt seen me since I became a man; but then, _you_, cousin! if I _am_ a man! shall I, like a base selfish--No--it mounts!--the Roland blood mounts high within me. [_Noise._ _Ul._ Hush! I rely on him they select to be my husband. His heart's elsewhere; and by securing your own escape now, you may hereafter effect mine. [_Stage door opens._] The baron! our enraged host! Now! what's to be done now? [_Christopher retires up the stage._ _Enter_ Baron Ravensburg _and_ Oliver. _Oliver._ I tell you, my lord, I'm sure Agnes will be found innocent--but I'm silent. _Baron._ Be silent, then. And for you, madam, I came to tell you that the priest is sent for, and my son is sent for; and I shan't stir out of this room till I witness the glorious union of the Rolands and the Ravensburgs. _Ul._ (_archly._) Your son! your son is absent, then! _Bar._ He is: but the countess has undertaken to see him brought home; and I don't know who she alludes to, but it seems she talks of catching more troublesome people. [_Here Ulrica makes signs to Christopher to be gone, and he steals towards the stage door, behind the baron and Oliver_] And so, Oliver, bring me a chair, old Oliver; [Oliver _gives him one_] for here I'll sit.--[_Christopher opens the door, and is going, when the baron hears him._]--Why, what's that? [_In his agitation Christopher turns sharply round, and faces the baron, holding the door wide open in his hand._] Zounds! where do you come from? _Chris._ Come! I come from---- [_Amazed._