carriage. The Earl and Countess of Gules--Lady
Elaine Bendore--The Hon. Adolphus Gresham.

_Elaine_. I must really beg of you to stop, Mr Gresham. You cannot
think how you pain and surprise me. I am sure I never had the least
idea! Besides, supposing papa or mamma should hear you.

_Adolphus_. Lord Gules is asleep, and her ladyship is absorbed in her
novel; besides, you may be sure that I have taken care to ascertain their
sentiments before I venture to say what I have to you. Oh, Elaine, if I
could but hope!

_Train stops_. _Guard_ [_looking in_]. All the smoking-carriages are
engaged, gentlemen; but you'll find room in here.

[_Enter_ Adolphus Plumper _and_ Mr Flamm. Flamm _seats himself opposite_
Elaine, _and_ Plumper _opposite_ Adolphus.

_Flamm_ [_aside to_ Plumper]. By Jove, Plumper! you never told me you
had a twin brother. Polish up your spectacles, old man--you've made 'em
damp by that race we had to catch the train--and look at your
_vis-a-vis_.

[Plumper _takes off his spectacles with great deliberation, wipes them,
puts them on again, and stares at_ Adolphus.

_Plumper_ [_aside_] _stammering_. Dud-dud-dud-do you see a likeness? Dud-
dud-dud-don't see it myself. He's bab-bab-bab-bald, and he's not sh-sh-
sh-ort-sighted.

_Fl_. Probably he doesn't stammer either. I'll try presently.
Positively, if he wore spectacles and a wig of your hair, I shouldn't
know you apart.

_Lady Gules_ [_aside to_ Elaine]. Did you ever see anything more
extraordinary, my dear? What a horrid caricature of our dear Adolphus
Gresham!

_El_. [_aside_]. I can't say I agree with you, mamma. I think he has a
more intelligent expression--more soul, I should say.

_Lady G_. You are quite ridiculous, Elaine. Half the girls in London
have bean setting their caps at Mr Gresham for the last few seasons, till
they have given him up as invulnerable; and now that you have a chance of
becoming one of the richest peeresses in England, you do nothing but snub
him. He is as clever and charming as he will be rich when his father
dies, and is certain to become a Cabinet Minister some day. He's
considered the most rising young man of his party.

_El_. That he may easily be, considering he is a Conservative. Oh,
mamma! how can you suppose that I would ever marry a Conservative?

_Lady G_. I have no patience with you, Elaine; a nice mess your Radicals
have made of it with Egypt and Ireland. But we won't go in