DOI Heft:
February 6, 1892
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17693#0074
64
PUNCH, OE THE LONDON CHAKIVABI.
[February 6, 1892.
Miss P.'s V. Well, my dear Maud, I confess that I——
Culch. It's quite impossible to make them hear down there, and
it's no fault of ours if their voices reach us occasionally. And it
does seem to me, Podbury, that, in a matter which may be of vital
importance to me—to us both—it would be absurd to be over-
scrupulous. But of course you will please yourself. I intend to
remain where I am.
[Podbury makes a faint-hearted attempt to go, hut ends by
resigning himself to the situation.
MissT.'s V. Now, Hypatia Peendergast, don't tell me you're
not interested in him ! And he's more real suited to you than ever
Mr. Podbury was. _Now,_ isn't that so f
Culch. {ivithdrawing his head). Did you hear, Podbury ? She's
actually pleading for me ! Isn't she an angel? Be quiet, now. I
must hear the answer!
Miss P.'s V. I—I don't know, really. But, Maud, I want to speak
to you about—Somebody. You can't think how he adores you, poor
fellow! I have noticed it for a long time.
Podb. {learning). Culchard ! You heard? She's putting in a
word for me. What a brick that girl is!
THE TRAVELLING COMPANIONS.
No. XXV.
Scene—Near Torcello. Culchard and Podbury are seated side by
side in the gondola, which is threading its way between low banks,
bright with clumps of Michaelmas daisies and pomegranate-trees
laden with red fruit. Both Culchard and Podbury are secretly
nervous and anxious for encouragement.
Podbury (humming "In Old Madrid" with sentiment). La-
doodle-um-La-doodle-oo: La-doodle-um-te-dumpty-loodle-oo! I
think she rather seemed to like me—those first-days at Brussels,
don't you f
Culchard [absently). Did she? I daresay. {Whistling "The
Wedding March" softly.) Few-fee; di-fee-fee-few-few; few-
fiddledy-fee-fiddledy-few-few-few-fee. I fancy I'm right in my
theory, eh ?
Podb. Oh, I should say so—yes. What theory ?
Culch. {annoyed). What theory ? Why, the one I 've been explain-
ing to you for the last ten minutes!—that all this harshness of hers
lately is really, when you come to analyse it, Miss T.'s V. I guess he's pretty good at
a decidedly encouraging symptom. clSJtitiSiH^ concealing his feelings, then. He's been
Podb. But I shouldn't have said Miss ^^^^^^^ keeping far enough away!
Trottek was exactly harsh to me—lately, at ^^^B^i^W^ Miss P.'s V. That was my fault. I kept
all events. '^HM^r Jw him by me. You see, I believed you had
Culch. (with impatience). Miss Trotter! MfV **C quite decided to accept Mr. Culchard.
You! What an egotist you are, my dear j^ffi^T \ MissT.'s V. Well, it does strike me that,
fellow ! I was referring to myself and Miss ft <X considering he was adoring me all this time,
Prendergast. And you can't deny that, JBmlfr-liilt A?^W/PV he let himself be managed tolerable easy,
both at Nuremberg and Constance, she- iM'mfC ImWI I-k^^'''/0 -\ [Podbury shakes his head in protestation.
Pobd. (with careless optimism). Oh, she '11 WOT mil W/^^"'^^P^i^ \ Miss P.'s V. Ah, but let me explain. I
come round all right, never fear. I only tIH Hilm. ^^Mk^lPi^^ ■ could only keep him quiet by threatening to
wish I was half as safe with Miss Trotter ! iMiSilSiML ^^vllS^I ?° home by myself, and dear Bob is such a
Culch. {mollified). Don't be too down- ffi^Hli0%^V'3?]P*"ti/ devoted brother that-
hearted, my dear Podbury. I happen to lJ ^^^Wra11 ^l^^'lfi- / Podb. Brother! I say. Culchard, she
know that she likes you—she told me as ^tSBsKm'^ '/<^\^i}-^% can't be meaning Bob all this time ! She
much last night. Did Miss Prendebgast— •, il^Slff \km%/ cun'l- Can she now?
er—say anything to that effect about me ? • ; ;,'< f^^K^Mf' /. Viflly Culch. How on earth can I tell ? If it is
Podb. Well,—not exactly, old chap—not i \)0W ^^^^^Mwli^V 'fW so, you must be a philosopher, my dear fellow,
tome, at least. But I say, Miss Trotter '! I \pw\\/ ^fi^^^MMfr, \ and bear it—that'sail.
didn't tell you that? Not really? Hooray! \W&Ac Tf^^lBf Miss P'* V' Tnat does alter tiie case-
Then it's all right—she may have me, after Wh$$$I> T^^j^IHIBi^- - i\ > doesn't it ? And I may tell him there's some
all! J0£$Mfr- 'm^rfnKwfi '' I ^1 tope for him? You mustn't judge him by
Culch. (chillingly). I should advise you wMw'/fi^/' ll^/i^w WUW> ) what he is with his friend, Mr. Podbury.
not to be over confident. (A silence follows, •/^^/^■i^C^y W$l)nWi Wf ' Bob has such a much stronger and finer
which endures until they reach the landing- /</H'%~Wi\f\Mw will\\ • character!
steps at Torcello.) They^ are here, you see Wm&W^/ mMm ISW \ Jfm T.'s V. Oh. well, if he couldn't stand
—those are evidently their gondolas, I recog- ^^K-^,v'";^;x m^MM m\l\li ' more 011 his edge than Mr. Podbury!
nise those two cloaks. Now the best thing f'^M^^f-^ WSTwm flP ) Not that I mind Mr. Podbury any, there's
we can do is to separate. /^yy^^^'y^y' ra»)lffl' nL \ no harm in him, but he's too real frivolous
Podb. (springing out). Right you are ! (To ^VMyfm^/- SIIIotIi W| \ to amount to much.
himself.) I '11 draw the church first, and see /\A/^^^^y Kffll III \ Podb. (collapsing). Frivolous! From her
if she's there. (Approaches the door of yyy^MM^ Hull I___ W \ too! Oh, hang it all!
Santa Maria: a Voice ivithin, apparently j^KwjajU^L-— Mi\ \ [He buries his head in his hands with a
reading aloud" Six balls, or rather almonds, ss&rz^'" m^U'i Vtiak- A groan.
of purple marble veined with white are set gg^r __ & wR' t Miss T.'s V. Well, see here, Hypatia.
around the edge of the pulpit, and form : " 1 7m Wmmk ^ take your brother on trial for a spell, to
its only decoration.") Hypatia, by Jove! ~ " 1 i ^~J^NJi I&vLiI oblige you—there. I cannt say more at
Narrow shave that! [He goes round to back. *Ja ~^^s^Jt' J present. And now—about the other. I want
Culch. (comes up to the door). I know I ^SLj*^*^ to know just how you feel about him.
shall find her here. Lucky I know that Culch. The other!—that's Me! I wish to
Torcello chapter in '' The Stones'' very nearly (! jTvpatia by Jove ! " goodness you wouldn't make _ all _ that noise,
by heart! (Peaches threshold. A Voice ' Podbury, just when it's getting interesting !
within. " Well, I guess I'm going to climb up and sit in that old j Miss P.'s V. (very low). What is, the good? Nothing will bring
amphitheatre there, and see how it feels ! ") Good heavens,— : him back—now
Maud! and I was as nearly as possible—I think I'11 go up to the
top of the Campanile and see if I can't discover where Hypatia is.
[He ascends the tower.
In the Belfry.
Podb. (arriving breathlesss, and finding Culchard craning eagerly
forivard). Oh, so you came up too ? Well, can you see her ?
Culch. Ssh! She's just turned the corner! (Vexed.) She's
with Miss Trotter ! . . They 're sitting down on the grass below!
Podb. Together? That's a nuisance! Now we shall have to
wait till they separate—sure to squabble, sooner or later.
Miss T.'s Voice (which is perfectly audible above). I guess we '11
give Ruskik a rest now, Hypatia. I'm dying for a talk. I'm just
as enchanted as I can be to hear you've dismissed Mr. Podbury.
And I expect you can guess why.
Podb. (in a whisper). I say, Culchard, they 're going to talk about
us. Ought we to listen, eh r Better let them know we 're here ?
Cidch. I really don't see any necessity—however- (Whistles
feebly.) Feedy-feedy-feedle!
Podb. What is the use of fustling like that? (Yodels.) Lul-
li-ety!
Culch. Nothing ? How little she knows me !
Miss T.'s V. I hope you don't consider me nothing. And a word
from me would bring him along pretty smart. The only question
is, whether I'm to say it or not ?
Miss P.'s V. (muffled). Dar-ling!
Culch. I really think I might almost venture to go down, now, eh,
Podbury? (IVo answer.) Selfish brute! [Indignantly.
Miss T.'s V. But mind this—if he comes, you've got to care for
him the whole length of your boa—you won't persuade him to run in
couples with anybody else. That's why he broke away the first
time—and you were ever so mad with me because you thought I was
at the bottom of it. But it was all his pride. He's too real inde-
pendent to share chances with anybody alive.
Culch. How thoroughly she understands me !
Miss T.'s V. And I guess Charley will grow out of the great
Amurrcan Novel in time—it's not going ever to grow out of him,
anyway!
Culch. (bewildered). Charley ? I don't see why she should mention
Van Boodeler now !
Miss T.'s V. I like Charley ever so much, and I'm not going
to have him cavort around along with a circus of suitors under
PUNCH, OE THE LONDON CHAKIVABI.
[February 6, 1892.
Miss P.'s V. Well, my dear Maud, I confess that I——
Culch. It's quite impossible to make them hear down there, and
it's no fault of ours if their voices reach us occasionally. And it
does seem to me, Podbury, that, in a matter which may be of vital
importance to me—to us both—it would be absurd to be over-
scrupulous. But of course you will please yourself. I intend to
remain where I am.
[Podbury makes a faint-hearted attempt to go, hut ends by
resigning himself to the situation.
MissT.'s V. Now, Hypatia Peendergast, don't tell me you're
not interested in him ! And he's more real suited to you than ever
Mr. Podbury was. _Now,_ isn't that so f
Culch. {ivithdrawing his head). Did you hear, Podbury ? She's
actually pleading for me ! Isn't she an angel? Be quiet, now. I
must hear the answer!
Miss P.'s V. I—I don't know, really. But, Maud, I want to speak
to you about—Somebody. You can't think how he adores you, poor
fellow! I have noticed it for a long time.
Podb. {learning). Culchard ! You heard? She's putting in a
word for me. What a brick that girl is!
THE TRAVELLING COMPANIONS.
No. XXV.
Scene—Near Torcello. Culchard and Podbury are seated side by
side in the gondola, which is threading its way between low banks,
bright with clumps of Michaelmas daisies and pomegranate-trees
laden with red fruit. Both Culchard and Podbury are secretly
nervous and anxious for encouragement.
Podbury (humming "In Old Madrid" with sentiment). La-
doodle-um-La-doodle-oo: La-doodle-um-te-dumpty-loodle-oo! I
think she rather seemed to like me—those first-days at Brussels,
don't you f
Culchard [absently). Did she? I daresay. {Whistling "The
Wedding March" softly.) Few-fee; di-fee-fee-few-few; few-
fiddledy-fee-fiddledy-few-few-few-fee. I fancy I'm right in my
theory, eh ?
Podb. Oh, I should say so—yes. What theory ?
Culch. {annoyed). What theory ? Why, the one I 've been explain-
ing to you for the last ten minutes!—that all this harshness of hers
lately is really, when you come to analyse it, Miss T.'s V. I guess he's pretty good at
a decidedly encouraging symptom. clSJtitiSiH^ concealing his feelings, then. He's been
Podb. But I shouldn't have said Miss ^^^^^^^ keeping far enough away!
Trottek was exactly harsh to me—lately, at ^^^B^i^W^ Miss P.'s V. That was my fault. I kept
all events. '^HM^r Jw him by me. You see, I believed you had
Culch. (with impatience). Miss Trotter! MfV **C quite decided to accept Mr. Culchard.
You! What an egotist you are, my dear j^ffi^T \ MissT.'s V. Well, it does strike me that,
fellow ! I was referring to myself and Miss ft <X considering he was adoring me all this time,
Prendergast. And you can't deny that, JBmlfr-liilt A?^W/PV he let himself be managed tolerable easy,
both at Nuremberg and Constance, she- iM'mfC ImWI I-k^^'''/0 -\ [Podbury shakes his head in protestation.
Pobd. (with careless optimism). Oh, she '11 WOT mil W/^^"'^^P^i^ \ Miss P.'s V. Ah, but let me explain. I
come round all right, never fear. I only tIH Hilm. ^^Mk^lPi^^ ■ could only keep him quiet by threatening to
wish I was half as safe with Miss Trotter ! iMiSilSiML ^^vllS^I ?° home by myself, and dear Bob is such a
Culch. {mollified). Don't be too down- ffi^Hli0%^V'3?]P*"ti/ devoted brother that-
hearted, my dear Podbury. I happen to lJ ^^^Wra11 ^l^^'lfi- / Podb. Brother! I say. Culchard, she
know that she likes you—she told me as ^tSBsKm'^ '/<^\^i}-^% can't be meaning Bob all this time ! She
much last night. Did Miss Prendebgast— •, il^Slff \km%/ cun'l- Can she now?
er—say anything to that effect about me ? • ; ;,'< f^^K^Mf' /. Viflly Culch. How on earth can I tell ? If it is
Podb. Well,—not exactly, old chap—not i \)0W ^^^^^Mwli^V 'fW so, you must be a philosopher, my dear fellow,
tome, at least. But I say, Miss Trotter '! I \pw\\/ ^fi^^^MMfr, \ and bear it—that'sail.
didn't tell you that? Not really? Hooray! \W&Ac Tf^^lBf Miss P'* V' Tnat does alter tiie case-
Then it's all right—she may have me, after Wh$$$I> T^^j^IHIBi^- - i\ > doesn't it ? And I may tell him there's some
all! J0£$Mfr- 'm^rfnKwfi '' I ^1 tope for him? You mustn't judge him by
Culch. (chillingly). I should advise you wMw'/fi^/' ll^/i^w WUW> ) what he is with his friend, Mr. Podbury.
not to be over confident. (A silence follows, •/^^/^■i^C^y W$l)nWi Wf ' Bob has such a much stronger and finer
which endures until they reach the landing- /</H'%~Wi\f\Mw will\\ • character!
steps at Torcello.) They^ are here, you see Wm&W^/ mMm ISW \ Jfm T.'s V. Oh. well, if he couldn't stand
—those are evidently their gondolas, I recog- ^^K-^,v'";^;x m^MM m\l\li ' more 011 his edge than Mr. Podbury!
nise those two cloaks. Now the best thing f'^M^^f-^ WSTwm flP ) Not that I mind Mr. Podbury any, there's
we can do is to separate. /^yy^^^'y^y' ra»)lffl' nL \ no harm in him, but he's too real frivolous
Podb. (springing out). Right you are ! (To ^VMyfm^/- SIIIotIi W| \ to amount to much.
himself.) I '11 draw the church first, and see /\A/^^^^y Kffll III \ Podb. (collapsing). Frivolous! From her
if she's there. (Approaches the door of yyy^MM^ Hull I___ W \ too! Oh, hang it all!
Santa Maria: a Voice ivithin, apparently j^KwjajU^L-— Mi\ \ [He buries his head in his hands with a
reading aloud" Six balls, or rather almonds, ss&rz^'" m^U'i Vtiak- A groan.
of purple marble veined with white are set gg^r __ & wR' t Miss T.'s V. Well, see here, Hypatia.
around the edge of the pulpit, and form : " 1 7m Wmmk ^ take your brother on trial for a spell, to
its only decoration.") Hypatia, by Jove! ~ " 1 i ^~J^NJi I&vLiI oblige you—there. I cannt say more at
Narrow shave that! [He goes round to back. *Ja ~^^s^Jt' J present. And now—about the other. I want
Culch. (comes up to the door). I know I ^SLj*^*^ to know just how you feel about him.
shall find her here. Lucky I know that Culch. The other!—that's Me! I wish to
Torcello chapter in '' The Stones'' very nearly (! jTvpatia by Jove ! " goodness you wouldn't make _ all _ that noise,
by heart! (Peaches threshold. A Voice ' Podbury, just when it's getting interesting !
within. " Well, I guess I'm going to climb up and sit in that old j Miss P.'s V. (very low). What is, the good? Nothing will bring
amphitheatre there, and see how it feels ! ") Good heavens,— : him back—now
Maud! and I was as nearly as possible—I think I'11 go up to the
top of the Campanile and see if I can't discover where Hypatia is.
[He ascends the tower.
In the Belfry.
Podb. (arriving breathlesss, and finding Culchard craning eagerly
forivard). Oh, so you came up too ? Well, can you see her ?
Culch. Ssh! She's just turned the corner! (Vexed.) She's
with Miss Trotter ! . . They 're sitting down on the grass below!
Podb. Together? That's a nuisance! Now we shall have to
wait till they separate—sure to squabble, sooner or later.
Miss T.'s Voice (which is perfectly audible above). I guess we '11
give Ruskik a rest now, Hypatia. I'm dying for a talk. I'm just
as enchanted as I can be to hear you've dismissed Mr. Podbury.
And I expect you can guess why.
Podb. (in a whisper). I say, Culchard, they 're going to talk about
us. Ought we to listen, eh r Better let them know we 're here ?
Cidch. I really don't see any necessity—however- (Whistles
feebly.) Feedy-feedy-feedle!
Podb. What is the use of fustling like that? (Yodels.) Lul-
li-ety!
Culch. Nothing ? How little she knows me !
Miss T.'s V. I hope you don't consider me nothing. And a word
from me would bring him along pretty smart. The only question
is, whether I'm to say it or not ?
Miss P.'s V. (muffled). Dar-ling!
Culch. I really think I might almost venture to go down, now, eh,
Podbury? (IVo answer.) Selfish brute! [Indignantly.
Miss T.'s V. But mind this—if he comes, you've got to care for
him the whole length of your boa—you won't persuade him to run in
couples with anybody else. That's why he broke away the first
time—and you were ever so mad with me because you thought I was
at the bottom of it. But it was all his pride. He's too real inde-
pendent to share chances with anybody alive.
Culch. How thoroughly she understands me !
Miss T.'s V. And I guess Charley will grow out of the great
Amurrcan Novel in time—it's not going ever to grow out of him,
anyway!
Culch. (bewildered). Charley ? I don't see why she should mention
Van Boodeler now !
Miss T.'s V. I like Charley ever so much, and I'm not going
to have him cavort around along with a circus of suitors under