A Practical Pleasure-seeker. Now I tell you what we'll do, Maria—you take Weetie, and keep close to me, and I'll look after Duggie, and we'll just stroll comfortably up and down till the very last minute, and drop comfortably into front places, and there we are!
Patriotic P. What I like about occasions like this, is the spectacle of a thoroughly good-humoured, well-behaved British crowd—you don't see that on the Continent, y'know!
More Patriotic P. (thoughtfully). No, that's perfectly true; and what I say is—we don't want all these police about. Trust more to the general spirit of decency and order—let the people feel they are trusted!
A Socialist. Ah, you're right. Did you year what one of the Orators said in the Square the other afternoon? He told 'em Sir Charles would 'ave to be as wide awake as what he was 'imself, to prevent a Unemployed Demonstration to-day. "Let him remember," says he, "it's in our power to do that within arf a mile of the Mansion House, which would make the 'ole civilised world ring with 'orror," he says. And it's men like that as they're trying to silence and intimerdate!
The P. P.'s (edging away a little nervously, to one another). Well, I hope the Police are keeping a sharp look-out. I—I don't seem to see so many about as usual, eh?
A Speculator (with two tubs and a board) to Female P. 'Ere you are, lydy, hony two shellin' fur a fust-rate stand—you won't see no better if you was to pay a suvring!
Female P. You may say what you like, but I'm not going to tramp about any longer, and if you're so mean as to grudge two shillings—why, I can pay for myself!
Husb. Oh, hang it—get up if you want to!
The Practical P. Well, Maria, it's no use worrying now—we must go and ask at the Police-Stations afterwards—it was a mistake to bring them!
The Patriotic P. Of course one is told there's a good deal of rough horse-play on these occasions, but anything more entirely——