Barlow.  Come on; I’ll help.  Bradley, get those pictures off the rug.  Don’t be so careless of Mrs. Perkins’s property.

Bradley.  Careless?  See here now, Barlow—­

Mrs. Bradley.  Now, Edward—­no temper.  Take the pictures out.

Bradley.  And where shall I take the pictures out to?

Yardsley.  Put ’em on the dining-room table.

Perkins (aside).  Throw ’em out the window, for all I care.

Bradley.  Eh?

Perkins.  Nothing.  I—­er—­I only said to put ’em—­er—­to put ’em wherever you pleased.

Bradley.  But I can’t say where they’re to go, Thaddeus.  This isn’t my house.

Perkins (aside).  No—­worse luck—­it’s mine.

Mrs. Perkins.  Oh—­put them in the dining-room; they’ll be safe there.

Bradley.  I will.

[He begins carrying the pictures out.  Perkins, Barlow, and Yardsley roll up the rug.

Yardsley.  There!  You fellows might as well carry that out too; and then we’ll be ready for the scene.

Barlow.  Come along, Thaddeus.  You’re earning your pay to-night.

Perkins (desperately).  May I take my coat off?  I’m boiling.

Mrs. Bradley.  Certainly.  I wonder you didn’t think of it before.

Perkins.  Think?  I never think.

Yardsley.  Well, go ahead in your thoughtless way and get the rug out.  You are delaying us.

Perkins.  All right.  Come on.  Barlow, are you ready?

Barlow.  I am. [They drag the rug out.

Yardsley.  At last. (Replaces the tub.) There’s the fountain.  Now where shall we put the cook’s delight?

Mrs. Perkins.  Over here, I should say.

Mrs. Bradley.  I think it would be better here.

Bradley (who has returned).  Put it half-way between ’em, Yardsley.  I say give in always to the ladies; and when they don’t agree, compromise.  It’s a mighty poor woman that isn’t half right occasionally.

Mrs. Bradley.  Edward!

Yardsley (adopting the suggestion).  There!  How’s that?

Perkins (returning).  Perfect.  I never saw such an original conservatory in my life.

Mrs. Perkins.  I suppose it’s all right.  What do you think, Emma?

Mrs. Bradley.  Why, it’s simply fine.  Of course it requires a little imagination to see it as it will be on the night of the performance; but in general I don’t see how it could be better.

Barlow.  No—­nor I. It’s great as it is, but when we get the hot-bed covers hung, and the fountain playing, and plants arranged gracefully all around, it will be ideal.  I say we ought to give Yardsley a vote of thanks.

Perkins.  That’s so.  We’re very much indebted to Yardsley.

Yardsley.  Never mind that.  I enjoy the work very much.

Perkins.  So glad. (Aside.) I wonder when we get a vote of thanks?