PRINCE DOODLE. My parent gone, th’ apparent heir was I! To gain the throne he wished that I should die. And then, because I couldn’t see why he, Instead of I, the nation’s king should be; He shipped me off, alone, to go to _see_, Alone I said! not so! off was I cast With four and forty geese before the mast! His parting words were these:—“Return, my dear, (Of course the whole thing was a jibe and sneer) When’ere a mermaid’s heart you hold in hand, And four and forty men before me stand, In place of all these geese I send as crew. ’Till then—‘O reservoir!’ my boy! adieu!” MONA. Oh! what a dreadful man! PRINCE DOODLE. He seized my brother; And swore we ne’er again should see each other Until this mermaid I should meet, so kind, And then a mountain full of diamonds find. The thing is absurd! There are no mermaids here, My uncle has the thro_wn_; I’m _pitched out_ clear! MONA. The diamond mountain of the Gnome King, see (_Points off L._) It’s full of diamonds: full as full can be. PRINCE DOODLE. What’s that you say? That mountain! It’s all rock. Diamonds inside! Oh, come! you only mock! I’d like to see my brother— MONA. What’s your name? PRINCE DOODLE. Oh! I’m a Prince, Prince Doodle. MONA. What a shame! PRINCE DOODLE. My kingdom’s in Cockagne, you must have heard Of Cock-a-doodle-do. (_She shakes head._) That noble bird Was a remote progenitor. Indeed, Our pedigree, by Darwin, you can read. MONA. I never learnt to read. Stay! (_puts fingers to forehead_) on me dawns, A notion (_triumphantly_) that’s where people live “_en Prince?_” (_pronounce “on prawns.”_) PRINCE DOODLE. (_Aside._) _A notion_ fishy! (_Aloud._) No, my dear, on _shrimps_! Your friends?—They’re?—— MONA. Mermaids. PRINCE DOODLE. _water-“nimps?”_ Why _w(h)at a—(looks towards her feet) tail_? Forgive the observation, Is there not something queer in your formation? (_Hesitatingly._) You don’t wear boots and shoes? (_aside_) Ah, that a fix is! They _can’t_ of course! MONA. Why not? My number’s “sixes.” You never heard of _soles_ and _eels_? PRINCE DOODLE. Yes, fried! MONA. Around our grottoes, there(_’s_) _sea-horses_(_’s_) _hide_. For _bark_——you’ve heard the “moaning of the _tied_,” And _hide_ and _bark_ make leather, eh? PRINCE DOODLE. Of course! (_Aside._) I’ve traced my _night mare_ up to its _sea-horse_; A mermaid! Here’s my chance! (_Aloud._) Dear me! How stupid! (_Aside._) Now aid me, Venus! MONA. (_Overheating aside._) Venus! He must be Cupid! Why how the boy has grown! (_Aloud._) Is she your “Ma?”