MR W. (_alone_). I shall have to change my rooms--and I _was_ so comfortable! Well, well,--another sacrifice to the Cause! AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY. IN THE VESTIBULE. _Visitors ascending staircase, full of enthusiasm and energetic determination not to miss a single Picture, encounter people descending in various stages of mental and physical exhaustion. At the turnstiles two Friends meet unexpectedly; both being shy men, who, with timely notice, would have preferred to avoid one another, their greetings are marked by an unnatural effusion and followed by embarrassed silence._ FIRST SHY MAN (_to break the spell_). Odd, our running up against one another like this, eh? SECOND SHY MAN. Oh, very odd. (_Looks about him irresolutely, and wonders if it would be decent to pass on. Decides it will hardly do._) Great place for meeting, the Academy, though. FIRST S. M. Yes; sure to come across _somebody_, sooner or later. [_Laughs nervously, and wishes the other would go._ SECOND S. M. (_seeing that his friend lingers_). This your _first_ visit here? FIRST S. M. Yes. Couldn't very well get away _before_, you know. [_Feels apologetic, without exactly knowing why._ SECOND S. M. It's _my_ first visit, too. (_Sees no escape, and resigns himself._) Er--we may as well go round together, eh? FIRST S. M. (_who was afraid this was coming_--_heartily_). Good! By the way, I always think, on a first visit, it's best to take a single room, and do that thoroughly. [_This has only just occurred to him._ SECOND S. M. (_who had been intending to follow that plan himself_). Oh, _do_ you? Now, for _my_ part, I don't attempt to see anything _thoroughly_ the first time. Just scamper through, glance at the things one oughtn't to miss, get a general impression, and come away. _Then_, if I don't happen to come again, I've always _done_ it, you see. But (_considerately_), look here. Don't let me drag you about, if you'd rather not! FIRST S. M. Oh, but I shouldn't like to feel I was any tie on you. Don't you mind about me. I shall potter about in here--for hours, I dare say. SECOND S. M. Ah, well (_with vague consolation_), I shall always know where to _find_ you, I suppose. FIRST S. M. (_brightening visibly_). Oh dear, yes; I sha'n't be far away. [_They part with mutual relief, only tempered by the necessity of following the course they have respectively prescribed for themselves. Nemesis overtakes the_ SECOND S. M. _in the next Gallery, when he is captured by a Desultory Enthusiast, who insists upon dragging him all over the place to see obscure "bits" and "gems," which are only to be appreciated by ricking the neck or stooping painfully_.