r.)

(Enter Lord Dramaleigh and Mr. Goldbury.)

Lord D.: Well, what do you think of our first South Pacific
Drawing-Room? Allowing for a slight difficulty with the
trains, and a little want of familiarity with the use of
the
rouge-pot, it was, on the whole, a meritorious affair?

Gold.: My dear Dramaleigh, it redounds infinitely to your
credit.

Lord D.: One or two judicious innovations, I think?

Gold.: Admirable. The cup of tea and the plate of mixed
biscuits
were a cheap and effective inspiration.

Lord D.: Yes--my idea entirely. Never been done before.

Gold.: Pretty little maids, the King's youngest daughters, but
timid.

Lord D.: That'll wear off. Young.

Gold.: That'll wear off. Ha! here they come, by George! And
with-
out the Dragon! What can they have done with her?

(Enter Nekaya and Kalyba timidly.)

Nekaya: Oh, if you please, Lady Sophy has sent us in here,
because
Zara and Captain Fitzbattleaxe are going on, in the
garden,
in a manner which no well-conducted young ladies ought to
witness.

Lord D.: Indeed, we are very much obliged to her Ladyship.

Kalyba: Are you? I wonder why.

Nekaya: Don't tell us if it's rude.

Lord D.: Rude? Not at all. We are obliged to Lady Sophy because
she
has afforded us the pleasure of seeing you.

Nekaya: I don't think you ought to talk to us like that.

Kalyba: It's calculated to turn our heads.

Nekaya: Attractive girls cannot be too particular.

Kalyba: Oh pray, pray do not take advantage of our unprotected
inno-
cence.

Gold.: Pray be reassured--you are in no danger whatever.

Lord D.: But may I ask--is this extreme delicacy--this shrinking
sensitiveness--a general characteristic of Utopian young
ladies?

Nekaya: Oh no; we are crack specimens.

Kalyba: We are the pick of the basket. Would you mind not coming
quite so near? Thank you.

Nekaya: And please don't look at us like that; it unsettles us.

Kalyba: And we don't like it. At least, we do like it; but it's
wrong.

Nekaya: We have enjoyed the inestimable privilege of being
educated
by a most refined and easily shocked English lady, on the