Chapter III: Act III

_MAMMA PROUDIE, fearing EMILY is exerting herself too much up in the country, calls in DR. HARDHACK to have him send her some word of caution. In room are GRANDMA P. [Knitting] MAMMA P., AUNT FLIGHTY and DR. H._

MAMMA P. I wish you would caution Emily, Doctor. I'm sure she's over-exerting herself, for she has sent home seven pats of butter of her own churning!

DR. H. Never fear, my dear madam. It's only that there is more iron getting into her blood, that's all. Let her alone, or tell her to do it more yet!

MAMMA P. But, Doctor, may not the thing be carried too far?

DR. H. For gentility, you mean? Don't you remember Marie Antoinette made butter and King Louis was a miller at Marly?

AUNT F. But just read the Doctor from Emily's last letter.

MAMMA P. Yes, just hear what she has written, Doctor. [_Finds letter and reads_] "You have no idea how different life looks to me now that I live a little for somebody besides myself. Why have I been so foolish as to suppose I was happy in living such a lazy, useless life as I have lived?" [_Looks at DR. H. as she folds letter and shakes head_]

DR. H. Iron in her blood, my dear madam, iron in her blood! [_Pounds table_] She'll come home a strong, bouncing girl.

AUNT F. Oh, shocking!

DR. H. [_Turns to AUNT F._] Yes, _bouncing_! Why shouldn't she bounce? I shall give you back a live niece in the fall instead of a half dead one, and you [_Turns to MAMMA P._] a live daughter, madam, and I expect you will all scream and stop your ears and run under beds because you never saw a live girl before.

MAMMA P. But, Doctor, I can't see as we shall ever get her home again. I keep writing and writing, and still she says she isn't ready. There is always something ahead.

DR. H. Let her alone, madam, let her alone. Give Nature a good chance. You will all undo all the good she's getting as soon as you get her home. I insist upon it [_Pounds table_] that she shall keep away from you all as long as she likes.

_Exit DR. HARDHACK._

MAMMA P. [_To GRANDMA P._] Did you ever see such a queer old dear as Dr. Hardhack? He does say the oddest things! Isn't he _so_ original?

GRANDMA P. I haven't heard such good sense talked by any doctor in a long time.

AUNT F. And then you know, he's all the fashion now.

CURTAIN.