Punch: Punch (101.1891)

134

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

[September 19, 1891.

_,-.»»,■-■ ■ **.*s.mmw*m ' There is no reason that I am aware of, why I should be—hut (lower-

THE TRAVELLING COMPANIONS. \ ing his voice) don't you think we had better wait till we are alone to

No. VII. discuss that subject ?

c a o 7 m n \ j. .n 7- i a. rr- i Podb. Oh, all right. I'm not partic—at least. Well, I'm glad

Sew*—A Second-Class Compartment on the line between Wurzburg armH know that»g alL

and Nuremberg. Podbery has been dull and, depressed all day, ' rRe becomes sijent again—but his face brightens visibly,

not having recovered from the parting with Miss Teotteb. First T. T. (to Second Do.). See that field there ? That's tobacco,

Lulchard, on the contrary, is almost ostentatiously cheerful. ^ ^ ^

Podbuht is intensely anxious to find out how far his spirits are ] Second T. T. What they make their penny smokes of. {The tram

genuine but-partly from shyness and party because some of\ mters a station\ what {wny engines they do 'ave 'ere ! I expect

their fellow travellers have been English—he has hesitated to , the d >u be wanting to see. 0ur billyetts again next, It's as bad

introduce the subject. At last, however they are alone, and he as it used to be with the passports. I've 'eard-mind ver, I don't

is determined to have it out on the very first opportunity. know »ow much ijkeli'ood there is in the assertion—that they 're

Culchard. Abominably slow train, this Schnell-zug. I hope we going to bring 'em in again. Most intricate they were about them,

shall get to Nuremberg before it's too dark to see the general effect, (To Culchard.) Why, if you'll believe me, a friend o' mine as 'ad

Podbury. We 're not likely to be in time for table d'hote—not that one—well, they got 'is description down to a ioter! He'd a cast in

I'm peckish. (He sighs.) Wonder whereabouts the—the Trotters 'is eye,—they put it down, and a pimple you'd 'ardly notice—but

have got to by now, eh ? down that went!

[lie feels he is getting red, and hums the Garden Scene from First T. T. It's no use 'aving such things if they don't do it

"Faust." thoroughly.

Culch. (indifferently). Oh, let me see—just arriving at St. Moritz, Second T. T. (irrelevantly). I wish I 'adn't 'ad that glass o' peach

I expect. Wonderful ... , , , wine where we changed

effect of colour, that is. ^ ^mlHtl/liiffllUllll ail lil ^as^* {A Guard appears

[He indicates the West, \ .jiflffiffB I _ I i'lj||))f(|llU[ j1))! l\ "" " °^ ^& ul'nc^ow' an^

m'»|«on is^ flaming^ ' ^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ j | j j jj ||^| ^f||'j||(j|| fj[|]f ^' ^«^^^^^^^ l j^^^^^^ comments^

in your way, this 'at- ~~-' , I don't mind owning

box, Sir? Don't give J^t><rT) / ^m^^^S/^BS^SBl^^^'.! ^^ffi^l^KpsL 7'>» rather down in the

yer much space in these (l:\\'r /{. v JTO^^-ll^^^?!^^!' ' mouth about-you

foreign trains. They V *-J ' WKg^MBWfrW*' Vj^MmWsPWll know what. I shouldn't

settle down and the train \\5|P^\ ^ajf^jjPP^ ljlg|^ care so much if there

country along 'ere !— \^^^^^^^^ "^^^^^^^^ coming across them

best part o' Box '111— ^=325355? Culch. (cordially). I

and 1 can't say more for .< Puts me ^ mind 0, the best t 0, Box ,m„ am very glad to hear

it than that! r you say so. I was

Second T. T. (a little man with a sandy fringe and boiled-looking j rather afraid you had taken a dislike—er—in that quarter.
eyes). What I notice about the country abroad is they don't seem to Podb. I?—is it likely ! I—I admire her awfully, you know, only

'ave no landmarks.

she rather seemed to snub me lately.

First T. T. (tenth a dash of f riendly contempt). What d'yer mean j Culch. (with patronising reassurance). Quite a mistake on your
—no landmarks—signposts? \ part, I assure you, my dear fellow. I am sure she will learn to

Second T. T. (with dignity). I mean to say, they don't 'ave nothing I appreciate you—er—fully when you meet again, which, I may tell

to indicate which is Jack's property, and which is Joe's.

First T. T. Go on—they've as much as what we 'ave.

Second T. T. '^rethey? We'ave fences and'edges. I don't see
none 'ere. P'raps you '11 point me out one ?

First T. T. There's precious few 'edges or fences in the Isle o'
Thanet, as you'd know if you've ever been to Margit.

Second T. T. (loftily). I'm not talkin' about Margit now, I'm
talkin' of 'ere, and I '11 trouble you to show me a landmark.

First T. T. Depend on it they've their own ways of knowing
which is 'oo's.

Second T. T. That's not what I'm sayin'. I'm sayin' there ain't
nothing to indicate it. [They argue the point at length.

Podb. (to Cddchard). Then you really aren't cut up—about
Miss T. you know ?

Culch. (with the reserve of a man who only wants to be pressed).

vou, will be at no very distant date. I happen to know that she will
be at the Italian Lakes early next month, and so shall we, if you let
me manage this tour my own way.

Podb. (with surprise and gratitude). I say, old boy, I'd no notion
you were such a nailing good chap! Nein, danky. [To the little
Cripple, who is cheerily inviting him, in pantomime, to drink from
his mug.) Cheeky little beggar. But do you really think anything
will—er—come of it, if we do meet her again—do you now ?

Culch. I—ah—have the best reasons for feeling tolerably certain
of it. [77<s looks out of ivindoiv and smiles.

Podb. But that cousin of hers—Chaeley, you know—how about h im t
Culch. I put that to her, and there is nothing in it. In fact, she
practically admitted—(77e glances round and lowers his voice.) I will
tell you another time. That lady over there is looking at us, and
I'm almost certain-