HELEN. Then here we'll stay, please. Once for all, I shall hear nothing but this tune :- HUGH. "Paint you some pictures!" Come, that's kind You know I'm nearly colour-blind. Here is the first. An antique Hall Laughing with all her rows of pearl He meanwhile watches .. HELEN. That's enough, It wants "verve, "brio," "breadth, “design," HUGH. This is the next. "Tis finer far: HELEN "Which she accords with smile seraphic.' I know it, it was in the "Graphic." Declined. HUGH. Once more, and I forego All hopes of hanging, high or low: In bungalow and palankeen HELEN. What!-all at once! But that's absurd ;Unless he's Sir Boyle Roche's bird! HUGH. Permit me 'Tis a Panorama, He puts that faded scrap before The "Rajah," or the "Koh-i-noor" Benares, or the Taj Mahal . It guides, directs his every act, I mean (Too late! (Opening his locket.) Look, Helen, that's the heather! Here come both Aunts together.) HELEN. What heather, Sir? (After a pause.) And why .."too late?" -Aunt Dora, how you've made us wait! Don't you agree that it's pity Portraits are hung by the Committee? THE LAST DESPATCH HURRAH! the Season's past at last; At length we've "done" our pleasure. Dear "Pater," if you only knew How much I've longed for home and you,— Our own green lawn and leisure! And then the pets! One half forgets I hope my special fish is fed ;- I long to see the cob and " Rob,"- And won't we read in "Traveller's Rest"! One misses your dear kindly store One misses, too, your kind bon-mot;- Has more of gall than honey! |