The relation of Hypnotiser to the Hypnotised at the Aquarium may be simply described as "GERMANE to the subject.' * * * * * SONG AND CHORUS FOR THE COUNTY COUNCIL ON NEXT DEBATE ON THE WATER SUPPLY--"Young BENN he was a nice young man." * * * * * THE TRAVELLING COMPANIONS No. XIV. SCENE--_Gardens belonging to the Hôtel du Parc, Lugano. Time, afternoon; the orchestra is tuning up in a kiosk._ CULCHARD _is seated on a bench in the shade, keeping an anxious eye upon the opposite door._ _Culch._ (_to himself_). She said she had a headache, and made her father and VAN BOODELER go out on the lake without her. But she certainly gave me to understand that she might come out when the band played, if she felt better. The question is, whether she _means_ to feel better or not. She is the most tantalising girl! _I_ don't know what to make of her. Not a single reference, as yet, to that last talk we had at Bingen. I must see if I can't recall it to her memory--if she comes. I'll wait here, on the chance of it--we are not likely to be dis--. Confound it all--PODBURY! (_with suppressed irritation as_ PODBURY _comes up_). Well, do you _want_ anything in particular? _Podb._ (_cheerfully, as he sits down_). Only the pleasure of your society, old chap. How nicely you do put things! _Culch._ The--er--fact is, I can't promise to be a particularly lively companion just now. _Podb._ Not by way of a change? Ah, well, it's a pity--but I must put up with you as you are, I suppose. You see--(_with a grin_)--I've got that vow to work out. _Culch._ Possibly--but _I_ haven't. As I've already told you--I retire. _Podb._ Wobbled back to Miss TROTTER again, eh? Matter of taste, of course, but, for my part, I think your _first_ impression of her was nearer the truth--she's not what I call a highly cultivated sort of girl, y' know. _Culch._ You are naturally exacting on that point, but have the goodness to leave my first impressions alone, and--er--frankly, PODBURY, I see no necessity (_now_, at all events) to take that ridiculous--hum--penance _too_ literally. We are _travelling_ together, and I imagine that is enough for Miss PRENDERGAST. _Podb._ It's enough for _me_--especially when you make yourself so doosid amiable as this. You needn't alarm yourself--you won't have any more of my company than I can help; only I _must_ say, for two fellows who came out to do a tour _together_, it's-- [_Walks away, grumbling._ _Later. The band has finished playing;_ Miss TROTTER _is on the bench with_ CULCHARD. _Miss T._ And you mean to tell me you've never met anybody since you even cared to converse with? _Culch._ (_diplomatically_). Does that strike you as so very incredible? _Miss T._ Well, it strikes me as just a _little_ too thin. I judged you'd go away, and forget I ever existed. [Illustration: "Ah, how little you know me!"]