_something_!

_Miss D._ (_as the horses spin round_). All the yellow flags are out
of it.

_Mr. C._ Doesn't matter, 9's red, and he's going first-rate--nothing
to beat him!

_Miss D._ Unless it's 5, and then you lose. (_No._ 5 _wins again._)
How unfortunate for you. 5 generally _does_ win twice running,
somehow.

_Mr. C._ (_with reproach_). If you had thought of that a little
sooner, I shouldn't have lost twenty francs! (_A player rises, and_
Mr. C. _secures the vacant chair._) More comfortable sitting down. I
must get that back before I go. I've got about twenty francs 'left,
I'll put five on yellow, and ten on 9. (_He does._ Croupier. "_Deux,
pair, et rouge!_") Only five left! I'll back yellow again, as red won
last. (_He does._ Croupier. "_Quatre, pair, et rouge!_" _He turns to_
Miss D. _for sympathy._) I say, did you ever see such beastly bad--?
_A Frenchman_ (_behind him_). Plait-il? _Mr. C._ (_confused_). Oh,
rien. I wasn't speaking to _you_, M'soo. (_To himself_.) Where
on earth has that girl got to? She might have waited! She's gone
back to the balcony! (_He goes out in pursuit of her._) Oh, I say,
Miss--er--DAINTREE, if you're ready for that "_Pas de Quatre_," I am.
Hope I haven't kept you waiting.

_Miss D._ (_sweetly_). Not' in the very least. Are you sure you've
_quite_ finished playing?

_Mr. C._ As I 'ye lost all I'd won and a lot on the top of that, I
should rather think I _had_ finished playing.

_Miss D._ So has the Orchestra--quite a coincidence, isn't it? You
were so absorbed, you see!--No, I won't keep you out here, thanks; my
sister will take care of me.

_Mr. C._ (_to himself, as he departs rather sheepishly_). I've
_offended_ that girl--I could see she was wild at missing that Barn
Dance. I wish I _had_ danced it, I'm sure,--it would have saved me
several francs. It was all her own fault. However, I'll ask her for
a waltz another evening, and make it up to her _that_ way. Confound
those _Petits Chevaux_!

_Miss D._ AMY, he's gone,--and I _haven't_ danced and I haven't sat
out with him--and he can't' say it's _my_ fault either! (_She kisses
her hand to the Petits Chevaux inside._) Thanks, _ever_ so much, you
dear little beasts!

* * * * *

THE BRUMMAGEM BIRDCATCHER.

(_A LAY OF A LABOUR PROGRAMME_.) AIR--"_THE RATCATCHER'S DAUGHTER_."

[Illustration: _Brummagem Birdcatcher_ (_aside_). "AH! I FANCY I SHALL
HAVE THEM PRESENTLY!"]

In Vestminster