with CULCHARD.  PODBURY is perched on a camp-stool in the forward part.  Near him a British Matron, with a red-haired son, in a green and black blazer, and a blue flannel nightcap, and a bevy of rabbit-faced daughters, are patronising a tame German Student in spectacles, who speaks a little English._

[Illustration:  Mr. Cyrus K. Trotter discussing New York Hotels.]

The British Matron.  Oh, you ought to see London; it’s our capital—­chief city, you know.  Very grand—­large—­four million inhabitants! [With pride, as being in some way responsible for this.

A Rabbit-faced Daughter (with a simper).  Quite a little world!

    [She looks down her nose, as if in fear of having said
    something a little too original.

The Germ.  Stud. No, I haf not yet at London peen.  Ven I vill pedder Englisch learn, I go.

The Blazer.  You read our English books, I suppose?  DICKENS, you know, and HOMER, eh?  About the Trojan War—­that’s his best work!

The Stud. (Ollendorffically).  I haf not read DIGGINS; but I haf read ze bapers by Bigvig.  Zey are vary indereshtin, and gurious.

A Patriotic Young Scot (to an admiring Elderly Lady in a black mushroom hat).  Eh, but we just made a pairrty and went up Auld Drachenfels, and when we got to th’ tope, we danced a richt gude Scots reel, and sang, “We’re a’ togither an’ naebody by.” concluding—­just to show, ye’ll understan’, that we were loyal subjics—­wi’ “God Save th’ Queen.”  The peasants didna seem just to know what to mak’ of us, I prawmise ye!

The Black Mushroom.  How I wish I’d been one of you!

The Young Scot (candidly).  I doot your legs would ha’ stood such wark.

    [PODBURY becomes restless, and picks his way among the
    camp-stools to CULCHARD and Miss TROTTER.

Podbury (to himself).  Time I had a look in, I think. (Aloud.) Well, Miss Trotter, what do you think of the Rhine, as far as you’ve got?

Miss T. Well, I guess it’s navigable, as far as I’ve got.

Podb. No, but I mean to say—­does it come up to the mark in the scenery line, you know?

Miss T. I cannot answer that till I know whereabouts it is they mark the scenery-line.  I expect Mr. CULCHARD knows.  He knows pretty well everything.  Would you like to have him explain the scenery to you going along?  His explanations are vurry improving, I assure you.

Podb. I daresay; but the scenery just here is so flat that even my friend’s remarks won’t improve it.

Culch. (producing his note-book ostentatiously).  I do not propose to attempt it.  No doubt you will be more successful in entertaining Miss TROTTER than I can pretend to be.  I retire in your favour. [He scribbles.