ELIZABETH ELIZA.--And all they would say was, “Turn right round--you are on the road to Providence.” MRS. PETERKIN.--As if we could turn right round! That was just what we couldn’t. MOTHER.--You don’t mean you kept on all the way to Providence? ELIZABETH ELIZA.--O dear, no! We kept on and on, till we met a man with a black hand-bag--black leather I should say. JULIA.--He must have been a book-agent. MRS. PETERKIN.--I dare say he was; his bag seemed heavy. He set it on a stone. MOTHER.--I dare say it was the same one that came here the other day. He wanted me to buy the “History of the Aborigines, Brought up from Earliest Times to the Present Date,” in four volumes. I told him I hadn’t time to read so much. He said that was no matter, few did, and it wasn’t much worth it--they bought books for the look of the thing. AMANDA.--Now, that was illiterate; he never could have graduated. I hope, Elizabeth Eliza, you had nothing to do with that man. ELIZABETH ELIZA.--Very likely it was not the same one. MOTHER.--Did he have a kind of pepper-and-salt suit, with one of the buttons worn? MRS. PETERKIN.--I noticed one of the buttons was off. AMANDA.--We’re off the subject. Did you buy his book? ELIZABETH ELIZA.--He never offered us his book. MRS. PETERKIN.--He told us the same story,--we were going to Providence; if we wanted to go to Boston, we must turn directly round. ELIZABETH ELIZA.--I told him I couldn’t; but he took the horse’s head, and the first thing I knew--AMANDA.--He had yanked you round! MRS. PETERKIN.--I screamed; I couldn’t help it! ELIZABETH ELIZA.--I was glad when it was over! MOTHER.--Well, well; it shows the disadvantage of starting wrong. MRS. PETERKIN.--Yes, we came straight enough when the horse was headed right; but we lost time. ELIZABETH ELIZA.--I am sorry enough I lost the exhibition, and seeing you take the diploma, Amanda. I never got the diploma myself. I came near it. MRS. PETERKIN.--Somehow, Elizabeth Eliza never succeeded. I think there was partiality about the promotions. ELIZABETH ELIZA.--I never was good about remembering things. I studied well enough, but, when I came to say off my lesson, I couldn’t think what it was. Yet I could have answered some of the other girls’ questions. JULIA.--It’s odd how the other girls always have the easiest questions. ELIZABETH ELIZA.--I never could remember poetry There was only one thing I could repeat. AMANDA.--Oh, do let us have it now; and then we’ll recite to you some of our exhibition pieces. ELIZABETH ELIZA.--I’ll try. MRS. PETERKIN.--Yes, Elizabeth Eliza, do what you can to help entertain Amanda’s friends. [All stand looking at ELIZABETH ELIZA, who remains silent and thoughtful. ] ELIZABETH ELIZA.--I’m trying to think what it is about. You all know it. You remember, Amanda,--the name is rather long. AMANDA.--It can’t be Nebuchadnezzar, can it?--that is one of the longest names I know. ELIZABETH ELIZA.--O dear, no! JULIA.--Perhaps it’s Cleopatra.