Sir Peter. Two hundred pounds;

good humor without paying for it!

what, a'n't I to be in a

But speak to me thus,

and i' faith there's nothing I could refuse you. You shall have it; but seal me a bond for the repayment.

Sir Peter. And you shall no longer reproach me with not giving you an independent settlement. I mean shortly to surprise you but shall we always live thus, hey?

Lady Teazle. If you please. I'm sure I don't care how soon we leave off quarreling, provided you'll own you were tired first.

Lady Teazle. I assure you, Sir Peter, good nature becomes you. You look now as you did before we were married, when you used to walk with me under the elms, and tell me stories of what a gallant you were in your youth, and chuck me under the chin, you would; and ask me if I thought I could love an old fellow, who would deny me nothing — didn't you?

Sir Peter. Yes, yes, and you were as kind and attentive

Lady Teazle. Ay, so I was, and would always take your part, when my acquaintance used to abuse you, and turn you into ridicule.

Sir Peter. Indeed!

Lady Teazle. Ay, and when my cousin Sophy has called you a stiff, peevish old bachelor, and laughed at me for thinking of marrying one who might be my father, I have always defended you, and said, I didn't think you so ugly by any means.

Sir Peter. Thank you. And you prophesied right; and we shall now be the happiest couple

Lady Teazle. And never differ again?

Sir Peter. No, never! - though at the same time, indeed, my dear Lady Teazle, you must watch your temper very seriously; for in all our

You don't perceive, my love, that you are just doing the very thing which you know always makes me angry.

Lady Teazle. Nay, you know if you will be angry without any reason, my dear

Sir Peter. There! now you want to quarrel again.

Lady Teazle. No, I'm sure I don't; but, if you will be so peevish

Sir Peter. There now! who begins first?

Lady Teazle. Why, you, to be sure. I said nothing - but there's no bearing your temper.

Sir Peter. No, no, madam; the fault's in your own temper. Lady Teazle. Ay, you are just what my cousin Sophy said you would be.

Sir Peter. Your cousin Sophy is a forward, impertinent

gypsy.

Lady Teazle. You are a great bear, I'm sure, to abuse my relations.

Sir Peter. Now may all the plagues of marriage be doubled on me, if ever I try to be friends with you any more!

Lady Teazle. So much the better.

Sir Peter. No, no, madam: 'tis evident you never cared a pin for me, and I was a madman to marry you a pert, rural coquette, that had refused half the honest squires in the neighborhood.

Lady Teazle. And I am sure I was a fool to marry you an old dangling bachelor, who was single at fifty, only because he never could meet with any one who would have him.

Sir Peter. Ay, ay, madam; but you were pleased enough to listen to me: you never had such an offer before.

Lady Teazle. No! didn't I refuse Sir Tivy Terrier, who everybody said would have been a better match? for his estate is just as good as yours, and he has broke his neck since we have been married.

Sir Peter. I have done with you, madam. You are an unfeeling, ungrateful — but there's an end of everything. believe you capable of everything, that is bad.

I

Lady Teazle. Take care, Sir Peter! you had better not insinuate any such thing! I'll not be suspected without cause, I promise you.

Sir Peter. Very well, madam! very well! A separate maintenance as soon as you please. Yes, madam, or a divorce! I'll make an example of myself for the benefit of all old bachelors. Let us separate, madam.

Lady Teazle. Agreed! agreed! And now, my dear Sir Peter, we are of a mind once more; we may be the happiest couple, and never differ again, you know; ha! ha! ha! Well, you are going to be in a passion, I see, and I shall only interrupt you so, bye, bye! [Exit.]

Sir Peter. Plagues and tortures! can't I make her angry

either! O, I am the most miserable fellow ! But I'll not bear her presuming to keep her temper: no! she may break my heart, but she sha'n't keep her temper. [Exit.]

This humorous scene between a doting old man and his spoiled young wife must be read aloud to be enjoyed fully. Note how Lady Teazle alternately quarrels with her husband and wheedles him. Each one shows his character unconsciously by what he says. One of the means by which we learn to understand the characters of people around us is by listening to what they say.

SUGGESTIONS FOR ORAL AND WRITTEN ENGLISH
THEME SUBJECTS

Write a conversation that would spring naturally from one of the following situations. For arrangement, turn to page 106. Where the speaker would grow very much interested or excited, indicate in parenthesis just what he should do, and the tone he should employ.

A brother wants to take his sister to a baseball game. She prefers to read.

You wish to attend one school, your chum another.

Two boys discuss a friend who refuses to play on the football team. Mary urges a friend to subscribe for the school paper.

A girl graduate desires to "put up" her hair on the night of the commencement. Her mother objects.

Two girls plan a picnic.

SUGGESTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL READINGS

The Sleeping Car. W. D. Howells.
The Elevator. W. D. Howells.

The Little Men Play. E. L. Gould.
The Little Women Play. E. L. Gould.

Dramatic Reader, Book V. Augusta Stevenson.

Patriotic Plays and Pageants. Constance Mackay.

Short Plays from Dickens. H. B. Browne.

For the teacher to read to the class:

Selections from The Piper, Josephine P. Peabody; Ulysses, Stephen Phillips; The Rivals, Richard Brinsley Sheridan; She Stoops to Conquer, Oliver Goldsmith.