o feel my--Oh, hang it _all_!... Eh? surely we have been on
more than five minutes! Worst of skating is, your feet get so cold!...
These _are_ beastly skates. Did you hear that crack? Well, _you_ may
stay on if you like, but I'm not going to risk _my_ life for a few
minutes' pleasure! [_He returns to bank._

_The Fond Mother_ (_from bank, to Children on the ice_). That's right,
ALMA, you're doing it _beautifully_--don't _walk_ so much! (_To
French Governess_), ALMA fay bocoo de progray, may elle ne glisse
assez--nayse par, Ma'amzell?

_Mademoiselle_. C'est ELLA qui est la plus habile, elle patine deja
tres bien--et avec un aplomb!

_The F.M._ Wee-wee; may ELLA est la plus viaile, vous savvy. Look at
ELLA, ALMA, and see how _she_ does it!

_Mad._ Vous marchez toujours--toujours, ALMA; tachez donc de glisser
un petit peu--c'est beaucoup plus facile!

_Alma_. Snay pas facile quand vous avez les skates toutes sur un
cote--comme _moi_, Ma'amzell!

_F.M._ Ne repondy a Ma'amzell, ALMA, and watch ELLA!

_Ella_. Regardez-moi, ALMA. Je puis voler vite--oh, mais vite ... oh,
I _have_ hurt myself so!

_Alma_ (_with sisterly sympathy_). _That's_ what comes of trying to
show _off_, ELLA, darling! [_ELLA is helped to the bank._

_A Paternal Skate-Fastener_. 'Ere you are, Missie--set down on this
'ere cheer--and you, too, my little dear--lor, _they_ won't do them
cheers no 'arm, Mum, bless their little 'arts! Lemme tyke yer little
skites orf, my pooties. _I'll_ be keerful, Mum--got childring o' my
own at 'ome--the moral o' _your_ two, Mum!

_The F.M._ (_to Governess_). Sayt un homme avec un bong ker.
Avez-vous--er--des cuivres, Ma'amzell?

_The P.S._ (_disgustedly_). Wot?--on'y two bloomin' browns fur tykin'
the skites orf them two kids' trotters! I want a shellin' orf o'
you fur that job, _I_ do ... "Not another penny"? Well, if you do
everythink as cheap as you do yer skiting, you orter be puttin' money
by, _you_ ought! That's right, tyke them snivellin' kids 'ome--blast
me if ever I--&c, &c, &c.

[_Exit party, pursued by powerful metaphors._

_The Egotistic Skater_ (_in charge of a small Niece_). Just see if you
can get along by yourself a little--I'll come back presently. Practise
striking out.

_The Niece_. But, Uncle, directly I strike out, I fall down!

_The E.S._ (_encouragingly_). You will at first, till you get into
it--gives you confidence. Keep on at it--don't stand about, or you'll
catch cold. I sha