Punch: Punch (101.1891)

244 PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. [November 21, 1891.

THE TRAVELLING COMPANIONS.

No. XV.

Scene—The Table dHote at Lugano ; Culchard has not yet caught
Miss Prendergast's eye.

Bob Pr. {to Podbury). Yes, came over by the St. Gothard. Who
is that girl who was talking to Culchard just now? Do you know
her ? I say, I wish you'd introduce me some time.

Miss T. {to Culchard). You don't seemTurry bright this evening.
I'd like you to converse with your friend opposite, so I could get
a chance to chip in. I'm ever so interested in that girl!

Culchard {to Mr. Bellerby). Have you—ah^-been up Monte j Gulch. Presently—presently, if I have an opportunity. {Hastily,

Generoso yet ? j to Mr. B.) I gather that you paint yourself, Sir ?

Mr. B. No. {After reflecting) No, I haven't. But I was greatly Mr. B. Well, yes. I assure you I often go to a Gallery, see a
struck by its remarkably bold outline from below. Indeed, I dashed picture there that takes my fancy, go baek to my office, and paint it
off a rough sketch of it on the back of one of my visiting cards. I in half an hour from memory—so like the original that, if it were
ought to have it somewhere about me now. {Searching himself.) framed, and hung up alongside, it would puzzle the man who
Ah, I thought so! {Handing a vague little scrawl to Culchard, painted it to know t'other from which ! I have indeed! I paint
who examines it with the deepest interest.) I knock off quite a original pictures, too. Most important thing I ever did was—let me
number of these while I'm abroad like this. Send 'em in letters to see now—three feet by two and three-quarters. I was most success-
relatives at home—gives them a notion of the place. They are— ful in getting an effect of rose-coloured snow against the sky. I
ar—kind enough to value them. (Culchard makes a complimentary sponged it up, and—well, it came right somehow. Buck, that was,
mumble.) Yes, I'm a very rapid sketcher. Put me with regular j not skill, you know. I sent that picture to the Royal Academy, and
artists, and give us half an hour, and I—ar—venture to say I should \ they did me the honour to—ar—reject it.

be on terms with them. Make it three hours, and—well, I daresay
I shouldn't be in it.

Podbury [who has dropped into the chair next to Miss Prender-

Culch. {vaguely). An — er—honour, indeed.—[In despair, as

Mr. B. rises.)—You-- You're not going !

Mr. B. {consolingly). Only into the garden, for coffee. I observe

gast and her brother). Bob, old chap, I'll come in the middle, if you you are interested in Art. We will—ar—resume this conversation
don't mind. I say, this is ripping—no idea of coming across you so , later.

soon as this. {Lowering his voice, to Miss P.) Still pegging away at [Bises ; Miss Prendergast rises too, and goes towards the
my "penance," you see ! garden.

Miss Prend. The pleasure is more than mutual; but do I under- Cudch. {as he follows, hastily)- I must get this business over—if I

stand that Mr. -? can. Butlwishlknew

So tiresome, I left my , . exactly hotc much to

glasses up in my room! (ffkut ' - . ^J^fy&ji, > M- ' f' tell her. It's really

[She peers up and ^^v/BS' ., . ,. :j , • ; i f!K ' TeiT awkward — be-

down the line of kWh^tf^ "-■' '• „' ~,r ^^^^^'l^im,'|f| tween the two of them.

f^es on her own '^^^^^ ^ ^ ^^^^^^^^1 ^ ' ' I.'111 afraid^I'ye^been. a

nice ' as she can be, ^ ^ ^as retired^to fetch

direction). I — er — <S , V^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ra^^bfc^i'^^^\ ' how has my knight

mumble —^^mble—-^ ^Sjg^^ ^ ^ ^ perform lady's

tual spoon. ^The —f^J^^^* another? Surely there

Waiter, with pity- —_ -^^e^^i U is nothing in that cir-

ing contempt, Tut- UTU, , - , , ., T, , , ,., „ cumstance to — to

tut - tut! Pesce, 1 knotk off quite a number of these wWe 1 m abroad hke thls- offend-or hurt you 5

Signore—feeshJ'f Culch. eventually lands a sole in a very Culch. Offended? {Considers whether this ivouldbe a good line

damaged condition.

Podb. {to Miss P.) No—not this side—just opposite. {Here
Culch., in fingering a siphon which is remarkably stiff on the
trigger, contrives to send a spray across the table and sprinkle Miss
Prendkrgast, her brother, and Podbury, with impartial liberality).
Now don't you see him ? As playful as ever, isn't he ! Don't try
to make out it was an accident, old fellow. Miss Prendergas't
knows you! _ [Misery of Culchard.

Miss P. {graciously). Pray don't apologise, Mr. Culchard ; not
the least harm done ! You must forgive me for not recognising you
before, but you know of old how provokingly shortsighted I am, and
I've forgotten my glasses.

Cidch. {indistinctly). I—er—not at all . . . most distressed, I
assure you . . . really no notion-

Miss T {in an undertone). Say, you k?ww her, then ? And you
never let on !

Culch. Didn't I? Oh, surely ! ves, I've—er—?net that lady. ( With
grateful deference to Mr. Bellerby, icho has just addressed hi?n.)
You are an Art-Collector? Indeed ? And—er—have vou—er—?

Mr. B. I've the three finest Bodgers in the kingdom, Sir, and
there's a Gubbins—a Joe Gubbins, mind you, not John—that's
hanging now in the morning-room of my place in the country that I
wouldn't take a thousand pounds for ! I go about using my eyes and
pick 'em up cheap. Cheapest picture J ever bought was a Prout—
thirty-two by twenty ; got it for two pound ten! Unfinished, of
course, but it only wanted the colour being brought up to the edge.
I did that. Took me half a dav, and wow—well, any dealer would
give me hundreds for it ! But I shall leave it to the nation, out of
respect for Prout's memory.

to take.) Hardly that. Hurt? Well, I confess to being pained
—very much pained, to discover that I was unconsciously pitted
—against Podbury !

Miss P. But why ? I have expressed no preference as yet. You
can scarcely have become so attached to him that you dread the
result of a successful rivalry! . _

Culch. {to himself). It's a loop-hole—I'11 try it. {Aloud.) lou
have divined my feeling exactlv. In—er—obeying your commands,
I have learned to know Podbury better—to see m him a sterling
nature, more worthv, in some respects, than my own. And I know
how deeply he has centred all his hopes upon you, Miss Prexder-
gast. Knowing, seeing that as I—er—do, I feel that—whatever it
costs me—I cannot run the risk of wrecking the—er—life's happiness
of so good a fellow. So you must really allow me to renounce vows
accepted under—er—an imperfect comprehension of the—er—facts!

[ Wipes his brow.

Miss P. This is quite too Quixotic. Reflect, Mr. Culchard. Is
such a sacrifice demanded of you ? I assure you I am perfectly
neutral at present. I might prefer Mr. Podburt. I really don t
know. And—and I don't like losing one of my suitors like this !

Culch. Don't tempt me! I—I mustn't listen, I cannot. No, I
renounce. Be kind to Podbury—try to recognise the good m him
... he is so devoted to you—make him happy, if you can !

Miss P. {affected). I—I really can't tell you how touched I am,
Mr. Culchard. I can guess what this renunciation must have cost
you. It—it gives me a better opinion of human nature . . it does,
indeed!

Culch. {loftily, as she rises to go in). Ah, Miss Prendergast, don t
lose your faith in human nature! Trust me, it is—er—full of