it might be a
Reynolds, certainly.

_His Friend_. It might be a Holbein--if it didn't happen to be a
Gainsborough.

_The Conn._ (_effecting a masterly retreat_). Didn't I _say_
Gainsborough? Of course that was what I _meant_. Nothing like
Reynolds--nor Romney either. Totally different thing!

IN GALLERY NO. II.

_Mr. Ernest Stodgely_ (_before JAN STEEN's "Christening"_). Now look
at this, FLOSSIE; very curious, very interesting. Gives you such an
insight into the times. This man, you see, is wearing a hat of the
period. Remarkable, isn't it?

_Miss Featherhead_. Not so remarkable as if he was wearing a hat of
some _other_ period, ERNEST, is it?

_The Elderly Lady_ (_before a View of Amsterdam, by Van der Heyden_).
Now, you really _must_ look at this, my dear--isn't it wonderful? Why,
you can count every single brick in the walls, and the tiny little
figures with their features all complete; you want a magnifying-glass
to _see_ it all! How conscientious painters were in those days!
And _what_ a difference from those "Impressionists," as they call
themselves.

_Her Comp._ (_apathetically_). Yes, indeed; I wonder whether it would
be better to get our tea here, or wait till we get outside?

_The Eld. L._ Oh, it's too early yet. Look at that poor hunted stag
jumping over a dining-room table, and upsetting the glasses and
things. I suppose that's LANDSEER--no, I see it's some one of the name
of SNYDERS. I expect he got the _idea_ from LANDSEER, though, don't
you?

_Her Comp._ Very likely indeed, dear; but (_pursuing her original
train of thought_) you get rather nice tea at some of these aerated
bread-shops; so perhaps if we waited--(_&c., &c._)

IN GALLERY NO. III.

_Two Pretty Nieces with an Elderly Uncle_ (_coming to "Apollo and
Marsyas," by Tintoretto_). What was the _story_ of Apollo and Marsyas,
Uncle?

_The Uncle_. Apollo? Oh, come, you've heard of _him_,
the--er--Sun-God, Phoebus-Apollo, and all that?

_His Nieces_. Oh, yes, we know all _that_; but who was Marsyas, and
what does the Catalogue mean by "Athena and three Umpires?"

_The Uncle_. Oh--er--hum! Didn't they teach you all that at school?
Well they _ought_ to have, that's all? Where's your Aunt--where's your
Aunt?

_Mr. Ernest Stodgely_ (_before the Portrait of the Marchesa Isabella
Grimaldi_). There, FLOSSIE, don't you feel the greatness of that now?
I'm curious to know how it impresses you!

_Miss Featherhead_. Well, I rather like her