_First Patronising P._ "A Tooth of Queen KATHERINE PARR." Dear me! very
quaint.
_Second P. P. (tolerantly)._ And not at all a bad tooth, either.
_'Arriet (comes to a case containing a hat labelled as formerly
belonging to_ HENRY THE EIGHTH). 'ARRY, look 'ere; fancy a king going
about in a thing like that--pink with a green feather! Why, I wouldn't
be seen in it myself!
_'Arry._ Ah, but that was ole 'ENERY all over, that was; _he_ wasn't one
for show. He liked a quiet, unassumin' style of 'at, he did. "None of
yer loud pot 'ats for Me!" he'd tell the Royal 'atters; "find me a tile
as won't attract people's notice, or you won't want a tile yerselves in
another minute!" An' you may take yer oath they served him pretty
_sharp_, too!
_'Arriet (giggling)._ It's a pity they didn't ask you to write their
Catalogue for 'em.
_The Aunt._ JOHN, you're not really _looking_ at that needlework--it's
QUEEN ELIZABETH'S own work, JOHN. Only look how wonderfully fine the
stitches are. Ah, she was a truly _great_ woman! I could spend hours
over this case alone. What, closing are they, _already_? We must have
another day at this together, JOHN--just you and I.
_John._ Yes, Aunt. And now--(_thinks there is just time to call on the_
CHESTERTONS, _if he goes soon_)--can I get you a cab, or put you into a
'bus, or anything?
_His Aunt._ Not just yet; you must take me somewhere where I can get a
bun and a cup of tea first, and then we can go over the Catalogue
together, and mark all the things we _missed_, you know.
[JOHN _resigns himself to the inevitable rather than offend his
wealthy relative; the_ Intelligent Person _comes out, saying he has
had "an intellectual treat," and intends to "run through_ FROUDE
_again" that evening_. 'ARRY _and_ 'ARRIET _depart to the "Ocean
Wave" at_ HENGLER'S. _Gallery gradually clears as Scene closes in._
* * * * *