[JOHN _affects a dutiful delight at this suggestion, and wonders mentally if he can get away in time to go to afternoon tea with those pretty Chesterton Girls_. AN UNCLE (_who has taken_ MASTER TOMMY _out for the afternoon_). This is the way to make your English History _real_ to you, my boy! [TOMMY, _who had cherished hopes of Covent Garden Circus, privately thinks that English History is a sufficiently unpleasant reality as it is, and conceives a bitter prejudice against the entire Tudor Period on the spot_. [Illustration: "WHAT ARE YOU DOIN' THEM C'RECT GUIDES AT, OLE MAN? A SHILLIN'? NOT _me_!"] THE INTELLIGENT PERSON. Ha! armour of the period, you see! (_Feels bound to make an intelligent remark._) 'Stonishing how the whole art of war has been transformed since then, eh? Now--to me--(_as if he was conscious of being singular in this respect_)--to _me_, all this is most interesting. Coming as I do, fresh from Froude-- HIS COMPANION (_a Flippant Person_). Don't speak so loud. If they know you've come in here fresh, you'll get turned out! PATRONISING PERSONS (_inspecting magnificent suit of russet and gilt armour_). 'Pon my word, no idea they turned out such good work in those times--very creditable to them, really. BEFORE THE PORTRAITS. THE UNCLE. Now, Tommy, you remember what became of Katherine of Aragon, I'm sure? No, no--tut--tut--_she_ wasn't executed! I'm afraid you're getting rather rusty with these long holidays. Remind me to speak to your mother about setting you a chapter or so of history to read every day when we get home, will you? TOMMY (_to himself_). It _is_ hard lines on a chap having a Sneak for an Uncle! Catch me swotting to please _him_! 'ARRY. There's old 'Enery the Eighth, you see--that's 'im right enough; him as 'ad all those wives, and cut every one of their 'eds off! 'ARRIET (_admiringly_). Ah, I knew we shouldn't want a Catalogue. THE INT. P. Wonderfully Holbein's caught the character of the man--the--er--curious compound of obstinacy, violence, good-humour, sensuality, and--and so on. No mistaking a Holbein--you can tell him at once by the extraordinary finish of all the accessories. Now look at that girdle--isn't that Holbein all over? FLIPPANT P. Not quite all over, old fellow. Catalogue says it's painted by Paris Bordone. THE INT. P. Possibly--but it's Holbein's _manner_, and, looking at these portraits, you see at once how right Froude's estimate was of the King. F. P. Does Froude say how he got that nasty one on the side of his nose? A VISITOR. Looks overfed, don't he? SECOND V. (_sympathetically_). Oh, he fed himself very well; you can see that.