I shall not bear a boot for many days!
Thus ends our wedding morn, and she, poor child, Has paid the penalty of heedlessness!
[_Curtain falls, whereupon, unless Mr. Punch is greatly mistaken, there will not be a dry eye in the house._
V.--BRUNETTE AND BLANCHIDINE.
_A MELODRAMATIC DIDACTIC VAUDEVILLE._
_Suggested by "The Wooden Doll and the Wax Doll," by the Misses Jane and Ann Taylor._
DRAMATIS PERSONae.
_Blanchidine,_ } By the celebrated Sisters STILTON, the Champion _Brunette._ } Duettists and Clog-Dancers.
_f.a.n.n.y Furbelow._ By Miss SYLVIA SEALSKIN (_by kind permission of the Gaiety Management_).
_Frank Manly._ By Mr. HENRY NEVILLE.
SCENE--_A sunny Glade in Kensington Gardens, between the Serpentine and Round Pond._
_Enter_ BLANCHIDINE _and_ BRUNETTE, _with their arms thrown affectionately around one another._ BLANCHIDINE _is carrying a large and expressionless wooden doll._
_Duet and Step-dance._
_Bl._ Oh, I do adore BRUNETTE! (_Dances._) Tippity-tappity, tappity-tippity, tippity-tappity, tip-tap!
_Br._ BLANCHIDINE"S the sweetest pet! (_Dances._) Tippity-tappity, &c.
_Together._ When the sun is high, We come out to ply, n.o.body is nigh, All is mirth and j"y!
With a pairosol, We"ll protect our doll, Make a mossy bed For her wooden head!
[_Combination step-dance during which both watch their feet with an air of detached and slightly amused interest, as if they belonged to some other persons._
Clickity-clack, clickity-clack, clickity, clickity, clickity-clack; clackity-clickity, clickity-clackity, clackity-clickity-_clack_!
[_Repeat ad. lib._
_Bl._ (_apologetically to Audience_). Her taste in dress is rather plain!
(_Dances._) Tippity-tappity, &c.
_Br._ (_in pitying aside_). It _is_ a pity she"s so vain!
(_Dances._) Tippity-tappity, &c.
_Bl._ "Tis a shime to smoile, But she"s shocking stoyle, It is quite a troyal, Still--she mikes a foil!
_Br._ Often I"ve a job To suppress a sob, She is such a sn.o.b, When she meets a n.o.b!
[_Step-dance as before._
[N.B.--_In consideration of the well-known difficulty that most popular Variety-Artists experience in the metrical delivery of decasyllabic couplets, the lines which follow have been written as they will most probably be spoken._
_Bl._ (_looking off with alarm_). Why, here comes f.a.n.n.y Furbelow, a new frock from Paris in!
She"ll find me with Brunette--it"s _too_ embarra.s.sing!
[_Aside._
(_To Brunette._) Brunette, my love, I know _such_ a pretty game we"ll play at-- Poor Timburina"s ill, and the seaside she ought to stay at.
(The Serpentine"s the seaside, let"s pretend.) And _you_ shall take her there--(_hypocritically_)--you"re such a friend!
_Br._ (_with simplicity_). Oh, yes, that _will_ be splendid, Blanchidine, And then we can go and have a dip in a bathing-machine!
[BLAN. _resigns the wooden doll to_ BRUN., _who skips off with it_, L., _as_ f.a.n.n.y FURBELOW _enters_ R., _carrying a magnificent wax doll_.
_f.a.n.n.y_ (_languidly_). Ah, howdy do--_isn"t_ this heat too frightful? And so you"re quite alone?
_Bl._ (_nervously._) Oh, _quite_--oh yes, I always am alone, when there"s n.o.body with me.
[_This is a little specimen of the Lady"s humorous "gag," at which she is justly considered a proficient._
_f.a.n.n.y_ (_drawling_). Delightful!
When I was wondering, only a little while ago, If I should meet a creature that I know; Allow me--my new doll, the Lady Minnie!
[_Introducing doll._
_Bl._ (_rapturously_). Oh, what a perfect love!
_f.a.n.n.y._ She ought to be--for a guinea!
Here, you may nurse her for a little while.
Be careful, for her frock"s the latest style.
[_Gives_ BLAN. _the wax doll_.
She"s the best wax, and has three changes of clothing-- For those cheap wooden dolls I"ve quite a loathing.
_Bl._ (_hastily_). Oh, so have _I_--they"re not to be endured!
_Re-enter_ BRUNETTE _with the wooden doll, which she tries to press upon_ BLANCHIDINE, _much to the latter"s confusion_.
_Br._ I"ve brought poor Timburina back, completely cured!
Why, aren"t you pleased? Your face is looking _so_ cloudy!
_F._ (_haughtily_). Is she a friend of _yours_--this little dowdy? [_Slow music._
_Bl._ (_after an internal struggle_). Oh, no, what an idea!