Ad. [falling on his knees, kisses its hem].  Sweet symbol of sanctified intuitions!  Tit-tit-tit-transparent—­though it may seem tot-tot-tolerably thick; for does it not reveal to me the workings of the soul of my beb-beb-beloved?  Ah, Elaine, how trifling do earthly treasures seem, compared with those of the affections!  You will be mine, for ever mine, dud-dud-darling, will you not—­even though I may not have the riches I am supposed to possess?

El.  Oh, Adolphus! how can you ask me such a question?  What is the wealth of the pocket as compared with the wealth of the soul!

Ad.  True! oh, quite intensely true!—­for how sweetly sings the poet Oscar on this theme!—­

   “As like miners we explore
   Hidden treasures in the soul,
   And we pip-pip-pick the amorous ore
   Firmly bedded in its hole;
   New emotions come to light,
   Flashing in affections’ rays,
   Scintillating to the sight,
   With a tit-tit-tit-transcendental bib-bib-bib-blaze,
   Warming us until we burn
   With a glow of sacred fire,
   And as coals to diamonds turn,
   Sparkling in us with did-did-did-desire.”

El.  Oh, quite, quite too lovely!  Come, Adolphus—­why should we linger here, now that our troths are plighted?  Why should we not at once brave the world together?  I need the sweet scents of the air, the rustle of leaves, the singing of birds, the chattering of monkeys, and the hum of nature.  Let us go, my love, and walk in the Zoo.

Ad. [rising].  Dud-dud-dud-do you intend to keep that on?

El.  What on?

Ad.  This mystic garment of kuk-kuk-curves and circles.

El.  No; I will keep it for a pattern and a sweet reminiscence.  Now I will go and put on my Louis Quatorze hat, and be back in a moment, if you will go and call a hansom.

[Exit Elaine.

[Adolphus bursts into a fit of uncontrollable laughter.

[Exit laughing.

SCENE V.—­The Zoological Gardens.

El.  How sweet are these sights and sounds when hallowed by the consciousness of a beloved presence!  How one glows with affection towards every object in nature!  Adolphus, dear, don’t you feel, with me, that our hearts warm towards the hippopotamus?

Ad.  Mine is positively beating with the violence of my affection for him.  If he was not so wet and bib-bib-big, I could throw my arms round him.  Dear hippop-pop-pop-pop-otamoms!

El.  Oh, look! there is that gentleman who got into the train with you on the blessed day that we first met.  Mr Flamm, I think Mr Gresham said his name was.

Enter Flamm.

Flamm.  Ah, Plumper, how are you, old man?  I was looking for you everywhere.  Why, what have you done with Mrs Plumper and the children?