Punch, or the London Charivari

oy_), why, you must be fond of me! Just think of that now! Well, you are fun, HEDDA! Look here, I must just run and tell the housemaid that--she will enjoy the joke so, eh?

Hedda (_coldly, in self-command_). It is surely not necessary, even for a clever Norwegian man of letters in a realistic social drama, to make quite such a fool of himself as all that?

George. No, that's true too. Perhaps we'd better keep it quiet--though I must tell Aunt JULIE--it will make her so happy to hear that you burnt a manuscript on my account! And, besides, I should like to ask her whether that's a usual thing with young wives. (_Looks uneasy and pensive again._) But poor old EJLERT'S manuscript! Oh Lor, you know! Well, well! [Mrs. ELVSTED comes in.

_Mrs. E._ Oh, please, I'm so uneasy about dear Mr. LÖVBORG. Something has happened to him, I'm sure!

Judge Brack (_comes in from the hall, with a new hat in his hand_). You have guessed it, first time. Somethi