The times., 1898-08-14
UP THE RIVER.

Cool OF the evening near Thames Dit
+on. Bareheaded. scarlet faced youths
.-uIiing. with calm, straw hated. silk
2 ,oused gir,s for cargo. who. with strings
OF rudder over shoulders, are steering.
Music from obtrusively decorated house
boats: confused melody from occasional
steam launChes.)
Girls voice Cfrom the Skylark. to banjo
accompanimenD:
Tn gzrine to see yer fader, Sal,
On yus. l am;
An ask him fer his lubly gal,
Oh yus. / am;
An il We lub another coon,
I'm gwine ter blow him to the moon,
I'm gEine to DO it very soon,
Oh, rus, | (with great confidence), oh, yus'
Chorus Of shrilI voices)
In me you see a dandy cullad gent;
That's me, you see; don't tell me that ent-
Fer If you do I'll
Perturbed Brother Qn boao-Now. my
good girl Do pull the right string,
please Can't you understand that if
YOU want to steer properly the first thing
70 remember is
Sister dcily)-I know the rule of the
river perfectly WELL thank you, Walter.
/ don't want a mere brother to tell me
how TO steer. It is not the first time
have been in a boat
Brother-Ifu be the last If you're not a
Jolly sight more careful Now pull this
side-no. no,-this side. That's right;
pull it as hard as ever you can CThey
shoot into the bank) l didn't mean you
TO pull as hard as all that.
Sister-Difficult to know what you do
mean. You have such an involved way
of expressing yourself that, really, it
would DuZZle any one to
Brother (desperately)-Next time i
come out. 'pon me word, III bring some
one else's sister.
Sis -er-If you can induce one to ae-
company you. Tugs at the ropes. Hith-
erto believe there has been some little
diffic-
Brother Qoudly)-Now, look where
you're sending Us.
CThey continue grumbling. Recumbent
Damsel on cushion reads lazily TO Punt
ing GirD.
Lazy Girl-"With a wild look Of de-
sDair the young artist threw himself al
the feet of the proud. cold lady. whose
features he had depicted with such con-
spicueus ability the glowing canvas
Mrs. Darbishire.' he cried, in accents
Of profond emotion. 'sDurn me if you
will not hear me out. Mine is no love OF
a mere STRIPPING; mine is no" What
say dear2
Industrious Girl-why don't you tie up
your shoelace2
Lazy Qacing up brown shoe and going
on" Mine is no iIl-considered affection
of a reckless man. who has not exam
tined his heart,' Mrs. Darbishire looked
al the impassioned youth distantly Mr..
Easelton. she said, in those icy accents
that became her so well, will you have
the exceeding kindness TO see if my car
riage is at the door?' He rose swiftly
10 his feet with a white pallor-''
tStops to punch scarlet cushion). Horri-
bly, inconvenient, these cushions are
dear. They're as lumpy as they can be-
Industrious Girl-You don't look quite
right.
Lazy Cglancing down nervously)-Oh
why didn't you tell me before? { Adjusts
skirt. Now, let me see; where was 1.
Industrious-''Whit pallor-"
Lazy (reading)-''With a white paIIor
that spoke of fercely restrained emotion.
I viii see,' he said. quietly He went out
OF the studio and Mrs. Darbishire bowed
her beautiful head in her hands. 'Heav-
en- help mei' she cried (Throws book
down.)
Industrious-End of a chapter?
Lazy-It's the end of the book, dear.
Industrious tcrossly)-What a stupid.
silly. perfectly idiotic way of finishing.
So like them. ] like an end to be an end.
Lazy Cbowing to youth in canoe)-Shall
take turn2
Industrious (sweetly)-No, thank you,
dear-not until we've passed by Mr. Went
more, at any rate. CPunts with elaborate
grace. and raises her voice to salute
canoe youth) How de do? Oh, delight