272 OCCASIONAL HAPPY THOUGHTS. 



in Regent Street, only that when Your Representative visited 

 it the Waterfall hadn't been wound up, and nothing Avas 

 playing a tune. This was unfair, as I had to pay eighteen- 

 pence for seeing this Shanklin toy. That one-and-six at the 

 gate, and the way it was got out of me, quite spoiled the 

 romance of a stroll through Shanklin Chine. You wander 

 on under overhanging trees, and by the side of glistening 

 rocks, you shudder at the depth below, and you gaze enrap- 

 tured at the glimpse of blue sky through the fretwork of foli- 

 age above, and you soliloquise aloud, or to yourself I 

 reached that poetic point when one feels inclined (as I felt 

 representing You, Sir), to pour forth my whole soul in some 

 sympathetic ear ; and at this minute my eye lighted upon a 

 young and lovely brunette standing pensively by a rustic 

 bridge gazing out toward the sea ; I paused, for not by a 

 footfall would I have disturbed her meditation. 



However, she had caught the sound of my fairy-like step 

 (I was weighed the other day, and am able on authority to 

 correct the report about my walking fourteen stone in my 

 boots), and, sighing gently, she turned her head towards me. 



I approached the Bridge, and, with that courtliness which 

 distinguishes any one. Sir, who represents You as You ought 

 to be represented (a photograph generally flatters the origi- 

 nal), I raised my hat, and respectfully, but cheerfully, alluded 

 to the beauty of the weather, the poetic inspiration of so 

 lovely a spot, and awaited her reply. 



Ah, Sir ! such soft eyes ! And I saw that she was about 

 to reply. 



She did. She said — 



