_Visitors ascending staircase, full of enthusiasm and energetic
determination not to miss a single Picture, encounter people
descending in various stages of mental and physical exhaustion.
At the turnstiles two Friends meet unexpectedly; both being shy
men, who, with timely notice, would have preferred to avoid one
another, their greetings are marked by an unnatural effusion
and followed by embarrassed silence._
FIRST SHY MAN (_to break the spell_). Odd, our running up against one
another like this, eh?
SECOND SHY MAN. Oh, very odd. (_Looks about him irresolutely, and
wonders if it would be decent to pass on. Decides it will hardly do._)
Great place for meeting, the Academy, though.
FIRST S. M. Yes; sure to come across _somebody_, sooner or later.
[_Laughs nervously, and wishes the other would go._
SECOND S. M. (_seeing that his friend lingers_). This your _first_ visit
here?
FIRST S. M. Yes. Couldn't very well get away _before_, you know.
[_Feels apologetic, without exactly knowing why._
SECOND S. M. It's _my_ first visit, too. (_Sees no escape, and resigns
himself._) Er--we may as well go round together, eh?
FIRST S. M. (_who was afraid this was coming_--_heartily_). Good! By the
way, I always think, on a first visit, it's best to take a single room,
and do that thoroughly. [_This has only just occurred to him._
SECOND S. M. (_who had been intending to follow that plan himself_). Oh,
_do_ you? Now, for _my_ part, I don't attempt to see anything
_thoroughly_ the first time. Just scamper through, glance at the things
one oughtn't to miss, get a general impression, and come away. _Then_,
if I don't happen to come again, I've always _done_ it, you see. But
(_considerately_), look here. Don't let me drag you about, if you'd
rather not!
FIRST S. M. Oh, but I shouldn't like to feel I was any tie on you. Don't
you mind about me. I shall potter about in here--for hours, I dare say.
SECOND S. M. Ah, well (_with vague consolation_), I shall always know
where to _find_ you, I suppose.
FIRST S. M. (_brightening visibly_). Oh dear, yes; I sha'n't be far
away.
[_They part with mutual relief, only tempered by the necessity
of following the course they have respectively prescribed for
themselves. Nemesis overtakes the_ SECOND S. M. _in the next
Gallery, when he is captured by a Desultory Enthusiast, who
insists upon dragging him all over the place to see obscure
"bits" and "gems," which are only to be appreciated by ricking
the neck or stooping painfully_.
A SUBURBAN LADY (_to Female Friend_). Oh dear, _how_ stupid of me! I
_quite_ forgot to bring a pencil! Oh, _thank_ you, dear, that will do
_beautifully_. It's just a _little_ blunt; but so long as I can _mark_
with it, you know. You don't think we should avoid the crush if we began
at the end room? Well, perhaps it _is_ less confusing to begin at the
beginning, and work steadily through.