_Miss P._ O, yes. She's in the kitchen with Juno. And, speaking of Sissy, reminds me that I must thank you for sending me--
_Mrs. G._ My pickles? Yes. Well, I'm glad you got 'em. But I didn't have a bit of good luck with 'em. And, speaking of pickles, O, Miss Pease, that villain, Smith, the grocer, has been taken up. He's going to be hung. Nothing can save him.
_Miss P._ Mr. Smith arrested! For what pray?
_Mrs. G._ P'isoning! Jest think of it! And he a deacon in the church, and has such a splendid span of horses, and such an elegant beach wagon. I declare, the last time he took us to the beach I nearly died eating soft-shelled crabs; and my husband tumbled overboard, and Mr. Brown got sunstruck; and now he's gone! Dear me, dear me! And my washing ain't out yet.
_Miss P._ But tell me, Mrs. Gabble, what is it about the poisoning?
_Mrs. G._ Why, he or somebody else has been putting prussic acid in his vinegar, just at the time, too, when everybody's making pickles; and there's no end of the p'isoning he will have to answer for. Mrs. Jewel's just sent for the doctor, and Mrs. Poor's been dreadful all day, and Dr. Baldtop's flying round from house to house; and, O, dear--there's my washing! Who'll be the next victim nobody knows, I'm sure.
_Sadie._ (_Jumping up._) O, dear! O, dear! Send for the doctor, quick! I'm dying, I know I am. (_Runs across stage and sinks into chair_, R.)
_Miss P._ (_Running to her._) Bless me child, what ails you?
_Sadie._ I don't know; I can't tell. The doctor, quick!
_Mrs. G._ Deary me, she's took sudden, just for all the world like Susan Richie.
_Jenny._ (_Jumping up._) Water, water! Give me some water! I shall die if I don't have some water. (_Runs down and sinks into chair_, L.)
_Mrs. G._ (_Jumping up and running to her._) Gracious goodness! here's another! It's something dreadful, depend upon it. When folks is took sudden--
_Bessie._ (_Jumping up._) O, my throat! I'm burning up! Give me some ipecac. Quick, quick, quick! (_Runs round stage, then sinks into chair_, C.)
_Mrs. G._ There goes another! It's something dreadful, depend on it.
_Miss P._ What does this mean? Here, Juno, Juno! Quick!
_Sadie._ Run for the doctor, quick, Juno!
_Juno._ (_Running_, R.) Bress my soul! I'll fetch him.