Punch (59.1870)

iv PUNCH, OR THE LONDON C!H ARTVA.R1. [December 31, 1870.

" Has not Me. DTxion told you that we consign such old-fashioned stuff to the sideboard ? " said Apollo.
" There are some stupid old deities, uncle Neptune for one, who believe in them, as old fogies on earth see luck in
mince-pies. I 'II have brandy-and-seltzer, and Miss Di will, 1 dare s.iy, take some maraschino and a cigarette."

" As Byron says, ' There was a light cloud on the Mooo,'" said Mr. Punch, handing her a paper of exquisite
papirosses Turc fort, the gift of the Russian Ambassador, and marked " Moscou."

" This is the way I am going to put him out to-morrow," said the Goddess, interposing her fair, round face
between her brother's and the Philosopher's. " You '11 be thirty years older, dear clever boy, before I do it again."

" I daresay it's all right, and all very clever," said Mr Punch, " but I want a bit of astrology, not astronomy,
from you. Eaise your voces stellarum, and te'l me what's going to happen in this Sublunary Wale."

" Do you mean to say," said Diana, reproachfully, " that, with a grand Eclipse to behold, you care about
Emperors of Germany, Balloou-Ministers, battles and sieges, broken treaties, and rubbish of that kind ? Who will be
thinking about them when the next Eclipse happens ? '

" Goddess excellently bright," said Mr. Punch, with that exquisite tact which combines a compliment with a
repartee, " it is a good while since that fire occurred at a certain lady's house at Ephesus, and yet we talk of it still."

" Dont talk about that," said Diana. " Do you know that the priests who incited that poor mad Erostratus
to burn my temple, cheated him out of his share of the assurance money ? "

* " Their Reverences made a good tiling out of that Dis-establishment, eh'? It does them credit. But now,
news, news, news ! What say the heavenly bodies ? What planet rules the destiny of France, and what is the benefic
Jupiter about, and does the violent Mars run retrograde?"

" Tell him something," said Apollo, finishing his B. & S.

" Listen : " said Diana. And leaning down, as erst she leant over her sleeping Shepherd, she whispered.
But what the Moon said to Punch is laid away in the golden casket of his Memory, and locked with the
diamond key of his Fidelity. It may be revealed, however, in due season.
" By Dad," said Apollo—

" By Jove, you mean, I suppose?" said Me. Punch.

" Didn't I say so? Diana, my dear, we shall be late. It will never do, after good-naturedly appearing at the
times predicted, and saving the Astronomers' credit so often, to stultify 'em now, and show that they only make flukes.
Kiss him, and come along, will you ? We ought to be in Spain by this time. But I '11 touch up the fiery-footed
steeds, and make 'em gallop apace."

The salute of Diana was given, and the bright guests were vanishing :

" Don't hurry your show," cried Mr. Punch. " If the Sun is Eclipsed for ten days, no matter, I will
enlighten Creation. Here is my

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