f the little ones.

But it was during the third and closing act of the play that the affair
culminated. The scene was laid on the lawn in front of Mr Brisbane's
mansion.

Enter, at one end of the lawn, a band of small and dirty but flushed and
happy boys and girls, in rags which might appropriately be styled
ribbons. At the other end of the lawn a train of domestics bearing
trays with tea, cakes, buns, pies, fruits, and other delectable things,
to which the ragged army sits down.

Enter host and hostess, with Sir Richard, friends and attendants.

(_Host_.)--after asking a blessing--"My little friends, this afternoon
we meet to eat, and only one request have I to make--that you shall do
your duty well." (Small boy in ribbons.--"Von't I, just!") "No platter
shall return to my house till it be empty. No little one shall quit
these premises till he be full; what cannot be eaten must be carried
away."

(The ragged army cheers.)

(_Host_.)--"Enough. Fall-to."

(They fall-to.)

(_Little boy_ in tatters, pausing.)--"_I_ shan't fall two, I'll fall
three or four."

(_Another little boy_, in worse tatters.)--"So shall I."

(_First little boy_.)--"I say, Jim, wot would mother say if she was
here?"

(_Jim_.)--"She'd say nothin'. 'Er mouth 'ud be too full to speak."

(Prolonged silence. Only mastication heard, mingled with a few cases of
choking, which are promptly dealt with.)

(_Blobby_, with a sigh.)--"I say, Robin, I'm gettin' tight."

(_Robin_, with a gasp.)--"So am I; I'm about bustin'."

(_Blobby_, coming to another pause.)--"I say, Robin, I'm as full as I
can 'old. So's all my pockits, an' there's some left over!"

(_Robin--sharply_.)--"Stick it in your 'at, then."

(Blobby takes off his billycock, thrusts the remnant of food therein,
and puts it on.)

Enter the brass band of the neighbouring village, (the bandsmen being
boys), which plays a selection of airs, and sends a few of the smaller
ragamuffins to sleep.

(_Sir Richard Brandon_, confidentially to his friend.)--"It is an
amazing sight."

(_Host_.)--"Would that it were a more common sight!"

Enter more domestics with more tea, buns, and fruit; but the army is
glutted, and the pockets are brought into requisition: much pinning
being a necessary consequence.

(_Lilly Snow_, softly.)--"It's like 'eaven!"

(_Hetty_, remonstratingly.)--"Oh! Lilly, 'eaven is quite different."

(_Dick Swiller_.)--"I'm sorry for it. Couldn't be much 'ap