_Fernan._ Law! _Ninette._ That is--I had none that I ever saw. _Fernan._ Oh, why in battle did no friendly blow Finish her luckless parent long ago? (_in choked accents_) Doth not the voice of nature seem quite clear--eh? _Ninette._ The voice of nature seems a little beery. _Fernan_ (_seizing her arm--music piano_). Look at me well! (_Ninette appears gradually to recognise him._) _Ninette._ Upon a close inspection, I seem to have a dreamy recollection Of having seen those eyes of yours somewhere, Also that most extensive head of hair; The accents of the voice, too, now I think, Seem broken by emotion, not by drink; Yes, it's all coming back to me, of course. _Fernan._ Remember, dear, I bought you once a horse, A wooden toy--remember, you had lots-- It ran on wheels--all mane and tail and spots-- Also a dog, a little dog, I vow, Which, when you squeezed it, used to go Bow-wow! Likewise a spade, which, on your nurse's head You broke, and got well spanked and sent to bed---- _Ninette_ (_wildly_). A flood of memory rushes through my brain! _Fernan_ (_excitedly_). Ninette, my daughter, look at me again. _Ninette_ (_seizing his nose_). Yes, yes, that nose decides me--yes--you are-- _Fernan._ At last--at last! he--he! she _knows_ her pa! In a mock love-scene with Ninette, Gianetto (Miss Ternan) draws the following comic picture:-- Fancy a bower with rose and jasmine graced, Such as we see in small tea-gardens placed; Where friendly spiders and black-beetles drop On to your bread and butter with a flop; Where mouldy seats stain sarsnet, satin, silk, And suicidal flies fall in the milk; Where we can scorn the heartless world's attack, Though daddy-longlegs may creep down your back; Smile at society's contemptuous sneer, Though caterpillars tumble in your beer; Where chimneys never smoke, and soot don't fall, Where income-tax collectors never call, Where one's wife's mother never even once Visits her darling daughter for six months; Where bills, balls, banks, and bonnets are not known-- Come, dwell with me, my beautiful--my own.