_First Matter-of-Fact Person_. They're just come back from the
funeral, I _expect_.
_Second Ditto, Ditto_. I shouldn't wonder. (_Feels bound to show that
she too can be observant._) Yes, they're all in mourning--even the
servant. Do you see the black ribbon in her cap? I _do_ like that.
_An Irrelevant Person_. It's just a _little_ melancholy, though, don't
you think?--which reminds me--_how_ much did you say that jet trimming
was a yard--nine pence three-farthings?
_Her Friend_. Nine pence halfpenny at the shop in St. Paul's
Churchyard. The child has her frock open at the top behind, you
see--evidently a _poor_ family!
_The I.P._ Yes, and the workbasket with the reels of cotton and all.
(_Looking suddenly down_.) Don't you call this a handsome carpet?
_A Frivolous Frenchman_ (_fresh from 'The Casual Ward' and 'The
Martyr' to his companion_). Tenez, mon cher, encore des choses gaies!
[_He passes on with a shrug._]
_A Good Young Man with a train of three Maiden Aunts in tow_ (_halting
them before a picture of_ SIR J. NOEL PATON's). Now you ought to look
at this one.
[_They inspect it with docility. It represents a Knight in
armour riding through a forest and surrounded by seductive
Wood-nymphs._
_First Maiden Aunt_. Is that a guitar one of those girls is playing,
or what?
_Second Ditto, Ditto_. A mandolin more likely; it looks like
mother-o'-pearl--is it supposed to be King ARTHUR, and are they
fairies or angels, ROBERT?
_The G.Y.M._ (_a little at sea himself_). "_Oskold and the
Ellé-maids_," the _title_ is.
_Third Aunt_. Scolding the Elements! _Who's_ scolding them, ROBERT?
_Robert_ (_in her ear_). "_Oskold and the Ellé_-maids!" it's a
_Scandinavian_ legend, Aunt TABITHA,
_Aunt Tabitha_ (_severely_). Then it's a pity they can't find better
subjects to paint, in _my_ opinion! (_They move on to_ Mr. PETTIE's
"_Musician_.") Dear me, that young man looks dreadfully poorly, to be
sure!
_Robert_ (_loudly_). He's not _poorly_, Aunt; he's a _Musician_--he's
supposed to be (_quoting from Catalogue_) "thinking out a composition,
imagining an orchestral effect, with the occasional help of an organ."
_First Aunt_. I see the organ plain enough--but where's the orchestral
effect?
_Robert_. Well, you _wouldn't_ see that, you know, he only _imagines_
it.
_Second Aunt_. Oh, yes, I _see_. Subject to _delusions_, poor man! I
_thought_ he looked as if he wanted someone to look after him.
_First Loyal Old Lady_ (_reading from Catalogue_). "No. 35. 'Lent by
Her Majesty the QUEEN.'"
_Second Ditto, Ditto_. Lent by HER MAJESTY, my dear! Oh, I don't want
to miss _that_--which is it--where?
[_She prepares herself to regard it with a special and
reverent interest._