_Two Prosaic Persons come upon a little picture, by Mr. Swan, of a boy
lying on a rock, piping to fishes._
FIRST P. P. _That's_ a rum thing!
SECOND P. P. Yes, I wasn't aware myself that fishes were so partial to
music.
FIRST P. P. They may be--out there--(_perceiving that the boy is
unclad_)--but it's peculiar altogether--they look like herrings to me.
SECOND P. P. Yes--or mackerel. But (_tolerantly_) I suppose it's a fancy
subject.
[_They consider that this absolves them from taking any further interest
in it, and pass on._