GLADSTONIAN ENTHUSIAST (_to_ FRIEND, _who, with the perverse ingenuity of patrons of Waxworks, has been endeavouring to identify the Rev. John Wesley among the Cabinet in Downing Street_). Oh, never mind all that lot, Betsy; they're only the _Gover'ment_! Here's dear Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone in this next! See, he's lookin' for something in a drawer of his side-board--ain't that _natural_? And only look--a lot of people have been leaving Christmas cards on him (_a pretty and touching tribute of affection, which is eminently characteristic of a warm-hearted Public_). I wish I'd thought o' bringing one with me! HER FRIEND. So do I. We might send one 'ere by post--but it'll have to be a New Year Card now! A STRICT OLD LADY (_before next group_). Who are these two? "Mr. 'Enery Irving, and Miss Ellen Terry in _Faust_, eh? No--I don't care to stop to see them--that's play-actin', that is--and I don't 'old with it nohow! What are these two parties supposed to be doin' of over here? What--Cardinal Newman and Cardinal Manning at the High Altar at the Oratory, Brompton! Come along, and don't encourage Popery by looking at such figures. I _did_ 'ear as they'd got Mrs. Pearcey and the prambilator somewheres. I _should_ like to see that, now." IN THE CHILDREN'S GALLERY. AN AUNT (_who finds the excellent Catalogue a mine of useful information_). Look, Bobby, dear (_reading_). "Here we have Constantine's Cat, as seen in the _Nights of Straparola_, an Italian romancist, whose book was translated into French in the year 1585--" BOBBY (_disappointed_). Oh, then it _isn't Puss in Boots_! A GENIAL GRANDFATHER (_pausing before Crusoe and Friday_). Well, Percy, my boy, you know who _that_ is, at all events--eh? PERCY. I suppose it is Stanley--but it's not very like. THE G. G. Stanley!--Why, bless my soul, never heard of _Robinson Crusoe_ and his man _Friday_? PERCY. Oh, I've _heard_ of them, of course--they come in Pantomimes--but I like more grown-up sort of books myself, you know. Is this girl asleep _She_? [Illustration: "THAT'S PLAY-ACTIN', THAT IS--AND I DON'T 'OLD WITH IT NOHOW!"] THE G. G. No--at least--well, I expect it's _The Sleeping Beauty_. You remember her, of course--all about the ball, and the glass slipper, and her father picking a rose when the hedge grew round the palace, eh? PERCY. Ah, you see, Grandfather, you had more time for general reading than we get. (_He looks through a practicable cottage window._) Hallo, a Dog and a Cat. Not badly stuffed! THE G. G. Why, that must be _Old Mother Hubbard_. (_Quoting from memory._) "Old Mother Hubbard sat in a cupboard, eating a Christmas pie--or a _bone_ was it?" PERCY. Don't know. It's not in _Selections from British Poetry_, which we have to get up for "rep."