MRS. R. has read that the Christy Minstrels are turned into a Limited Company, but, before subscribing for shares, she wants to know if she would have to black her face? But what she objects to most is, that the principal performers (as she has been told) rattle their own bones! * * * * * THE MAN FROM BLANKLEY'S. A STORY IN SCENES. SCENE III.--Mrs. TIDMARSH'S _Drawing-room. Wall-paper of big grey peonies sprawling over a shiny pale salmon ground. Over-mantel in black and gold. Large mirrors: cut-glass gaselier, supplemented by two standard lamps with yellow shades. Furniture upholstered in yellow and brown brocade. Crimson damask hangings. Parian statuettes under glass, on walnut "What-nots"; cheap china in rosewood cabinets. Big banner-screen embroidered in beads, with the Tidmarsh armorial bearings, as recently ascertained by the Heralds' College. Time, twenty minutes to eight._ Mrs. TIDMARSH _is seated, flushed and expectant, near the fire, her little daughter_, GWENDOLEN, _aged seven, is apparently absorbed in a picture-book close by._ Miss SEATON _is sitting by a side-table, at some distance from them. Enter_ Mr. TIDMARSH, _who, obeying a sign from his wife, approaches the hearth-rug, and lowers his voice to a cautious under-tone._ _Mr. Tid._ It's all right, SEAKALE got in at BLANKLEY'S just as they were closing. They said they would send round and stop the person, if possible--but they couldn't say, for certain, whether he mightn't have started already. _Mrs. Tid._ Then he may come, even now! May I ask what you intend to do if he does, MONTAGUE? _Mr. Tid._ Well, that's what I rather wanted to ask _you_, my dear. We might tell SEAKALE to send him away. _Mrs. Tid._ If you do, he'll be certain to send away the wrong person--Uncle GABRIEL, as likely as not! _Mr. Tid._ Um----yes, I never thought of that--no, he must be shown up. Couldn't you explain to him, quietly, that we have made up our party and shan't require his--hem--services? _Mrs. Tid._ I? Certainly _not_, MONTAGUE. _You_ hired him, and you must get rid of him yourself! _Mr. Tid._ (_uneasily._) 'Pon my word, MARIA, it's an awkward thing to do. I almost think we'd better keep him if he comes--we shall have to _pay_ for him anyhow. After all, he'll be quite inoffensive--nobody will notice he's been hired for the evening.