[The other Censors express dissent in undertones.
Mr. W. "Till I owned that I longed for a drink."
Third C. No, no! "A drink"! We all know what that means—alcoholic stimulant of some kind. At all events that's how the audience are certain to take it.
Mr. W. (feebly).
"So Molly her pretty hands hollowed
Into curves like an exquisite cup,
And draughts so delicious I swallowed,
That rivulet nearly dried up!"
Third C. Well, Mr. Wheedler, you're not going to defend that, I hope?
Mr. W. I'm not prepared to deny that it is silly—very silly—but hardly—er—vulgar, I should have thought?
Third C. That is a question of taste, which we won't dispute. I call it distinctly vulgar. Why can't he drink out of his own hands?
The Ch. (blandly). Allow me. How would this do for the second line? "She had a collapsible cup." A good many people do carry them. I have one myself. Is that all of your Ballad, Mr. Wheedler?
Mr. W. (with great relief.) That is all, Sir.