Scene II

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(MUDDY STREET IN EAST BOSTON. Mr. STARR, WIPING HIS HAT WITH HIS HANDKERCHIEF, SOLUS.)

MR. STARR.  If only Clara had not been so anxiousabout the Board meeting!   (EYES FIVE-CENT PIECE.)Where can that penny be?   (SEARCHES IN POCKETS, ISSEARCHING WHEN—)(ENTER R. H. U. E.  SPAN OF WILD HORSES, SWIFTLYDRAGGING A CARRYALL.  IN THE CARRYALL TWO CHILDRENSCREAMING.  SPEED OF HORSES, 2.41.)

MR. STARR. Under the present circumstances life is worthless, or nearly so. Let me bravely throw it away!

(RUSHES UPON THE SPAN.  CATCHES EACH HORSE BY THE BIT,AND BY SHEER WEIGHT CONTROLS THEM.  HORSES ON THEIRMETTLE; Mr. Starr  ON HIS.  ENTER, RUNNING, JOHNCRADOCK.)

JOHN CRADOCK. Whoa, whoa! Ha! they stop. How can I thank you, my man? You have saved my children’s lives.

MR. STARR (STILL HOLDING BITS). You had better take the reins.

John Cradock mounts the seat, seizes reins, but is eager to reward the poor, tattered wretch at their heads. Passes reins to right hand, and with left feels for a half eagle, which he throws, with grateful words, to Mr. Starr. Mr. Starr leaves the plunging horses, and they rush toward Prescott Street. (EXEUNT JOHN CRADOCK, HORSES AND CHILDREN.)

Half amused, half ashamed, Mr. Starr picks up the coin, which he also supposes to be half an eagle.

It proves to be a bright penny, just from the mint.

Mr. Starr lays it with delight upon the five-centnickel.(ENTER A STREET CAR, L. H. L. E.  Mr. STARR WAVESHIS HAND WITH DIGNITY, AND ENTERS CAR.  PAYS HIS FARE,SIX CENTS, AS HE PASSES CONDUCTOR.)

In fifteen minutes they are at Maverick Square.  Mr.Starr stops the car at the office of Siemens & Bessemer,and enters.  Meets his friend Fothergill.

FOTHERGILL. Bless me, Starr, you are covered with mud! Pottery, eh? Runaway horse, eh? No matter; we are just in time to see Wendell off. William, take Mr. Starr’s hat to be pressed. Put on this light overcoat, Starr. Here is my tweed cap. Now, jump in, and we will go to the “Samaria” to bid Wendell good-by.

And indeed they both found Wendell. Mr. Starr bade him good-by, and advised him a little about the man be was to see in Dresden. He met Herr Birnebaum, and talked with him a little about the chemistry of enamels. Oddly enough, Fonseca was there, the attache, the same whom Clara had taken to drive at Bethlehem. Mr. Starr talked a little Spanish with him. Then they were all rung onshore.

TABLEAU: DEPARTING STEAMER. CROWD WAVES HANDKERCHIEFS.

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