Mr. Punch's Dramatic Sequels

by St. John Hankin

[Insolently.] Oh! the gardener’s wife.

Claude.

[Melodramatic at once.] Yes. The gardener’s wife and my mother!

Mrs. Deschappelles.

[Impatiently.] Of course, I know the unfortunate relationship between you, Claude. You need not thrust it down my throat. You know how unpleasant it is to me.

Pauline.

[Shocked at this bad taste.] Mother!

Mrs. Deschappelles.

Oh, yes, it is. As I was saying to your poor father only yesterday. “Of course, Claude is all right. He is an officer now, and all officers are supposed to be gentlemen. But his relatives are impossible, quite impossible!”