CROK. Bless you both! Hah! I wish you a pleasant journey, with all my heart. Keep up your spirits, Samuel, man is born to misfortune. (_crosses to_ L., _then turns to_ TODD) I hope you’ve settled your worldly affairs. Good bye—this may be the last time we shall ever meet each other in this world—but remember,—I tried to cheer you to the last. TODD. (_dropping into chair_ R. _of table_) Thank you—you’ve made me very comfortable—very. _Exit_ CROKER, R. 1 E. MRS. T. (C.) What a shocking raven my uncle is!—He hasn’t frightened you, dear, has he? TODD. (_seated_, R.) No—not to say, frightened—but somehow I don’t feel that glowing anticipation of our journey that I did this morning. Vague apprehensions will intrude into the—vacant mind—and damp one’s natural hilarity. MRS. T. Nonsense! (_lighting a chamber candlestick_) You’d better get to bed—and you’ll forget all these terrible stories before morning. (_crossing to_ R.) TODD. (_rises_) Very well—I’ll follow you in a few minutes, my dear. _Exit_ MRS. TODD, _with chamber candlestick_, R. 1 E. Croker’s suggestion about arranging my worldly affairs should not be neglected. (_sits_ at L. _of table and takes papers out of writing-desk_) I have some papers and documents here which I must put in order before I depart for “that undiscovered bourne from whence no traveller gets a return ticket.” Pshaw! I must not let the dismal forebodings of old Croker prey upon me! Now! think of it, I’ll light one of those Turkish cigarettes, which my friend, Captain Crasher, brought home from the East. He tells me they’re prepared with opium and produce the most tranquillizing effect on the spirits. (_he takes a cigar case from the table drawer and lights a cigarette_) This I hope will restore the serenity of my mind. Be a man, Todd! be a man! Croker’s an ass! He and his stories may go to the devil. (_smoking and arranging his papers_) Humph! ha! pooh! capital weed! (_taking up a bundle of papers_) What are these? “Accounts settled.” Um! um! (_puts them down and takes up another parcel_, _turning them over_) Mrs. Todd’s letters to me when we were courting. Ah! delicious smoke! A lock of her silken hair! (_smoking_) How beautifully it curls! and this brown sprig of myrtle, which she wore the night we vowed to love for ever. Ha! we were green then! Her eyes remind me of—(_reading endorsement on another document_) “The last will and testament of Samuel Todd.” Dear me! what a sudden chill the sight of this solemn instrument brings over me. The paper looks so ghastly white, and the ink so deadly black; that, gazing at it as I sit here, seems like staring in the face of my own ghost. Pshaw! I’ll not give way to these desponding fancies! (_smoking_) By the bye, I may as well add a codicil to my will. I’ve been thinking about it for some time; no one can tell what may happen. Let me see—(_running over