TOUCHIT.--I have a mind to tell those two ladies what I think of Miss Julia Prior. If they knew you as I know you, O Julia Prior, what a short reign yours would be! MISS P.--I have to manage them a little. Each separately it is not so difficult. But when they are together, oh, it is very hard sometimes. Enter MILLIKEN dressed, shakes hands with Miss P. MILLIKEN.--Miss Prior! are you well? Have the children been good? and learned all their lessons? MISS P.--The children are pretty good, sir. MILLIKEN.--Well, that's a great deal as times go. Do not bother them with too much learning, Miss Prior. Let them have an easy life. Time enough for trouble when age comes. Enter John. JOHN.--Dinner, sir. [And exit.] MILLIKEN.--Dinner, ladies. My Lady Kicklebury (gives arm to Lady K). LADY K.--My dear Horace, you SHOULDN'T shake hands with Miss Prior. You should keep people of that class at a distance, my dear creature. [They go in to dinner, Captain TOUCHIT following with Mrs. BONNINGTON. As they go out, enter MARY with children's tea-tray, &c., children following, and after them Mrs. PRIOR. MARY gives her tea.] MRS. PRIOR.--Thank you, Mary! You are so very kind! Oh, what delicious tea! GEORGY.--I say, Mrs. Prior, I dare say you would like to dine best, wouldn't you? MRS. P.--Bless you, my darling love, I had my dinner at one o'clock with my children at home. GEORGY.--So had we: but we go in to dessert very often; and then don't we have cakes and oranges and candied-peel and macaroons and things! We are not to go in to-day; because Bella ate so many strawberries she made herself ill. BELLA.--So did you. GEORGY.--I'm a man, and men eat more than women, twice as much as women. When I'm a man I'll eat as much cake as ever I like. I say, Mary, give us the marmalade. MRS. P.--Oh, what nice marmalade! I know of some poor children-- MISS P.--Mamma! don't, mamma [in an imploring tone]. MRS. P.--I know of two poor children at home, who have very seldom nice marmalade and cake, young people. GEORGE.--You mean Adolphus and Frederick and Amelia, your children. Well, they shall have marmalade and cake. BELLA.--Oh, yes! I'll give them mine. MRS. P.--Darling, dearest child! GEORGE [his mouth full].--I won't give 'em mine: but they can have another pot, you know. You have always got a basket with you, Mrs. Prior. I know you have. You had it that day you took the cold fowl. MRS. P.--For the poor blind black man! oh, how thankful he was! GEORGE.--I don't know whether it was for a black man. Mary, get us another pot of marmalade. MARY.--I don't know, Master George. GEORGE.--I WILL have another pot of marmalade. If you don't, I'll--I'll smash everything--I will. BELLA.--Oh, you naughty, rude boy! GEORGE.--Hold YOUR tongue! I WILL have it. Mary shall go and get it. MRS. P.--Do humor him, Mary; and I'm sure my poor children at home will be the better for it.