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ser much in all my life! [He is left laughing.[ 127] <hr style="width: 85%;" /> <h2>In a Fog.</h2> (A Reminiscence of the Past Month.) Scene—Main thoroughfare near Hyde Park. Time 8 P.M. Nothing visible anywhere, but very much audible; horses slipping and plunging, wheels grinding, crashes, jolts, and English as she is spoke on such occasions. Mrs. Flusters (who is seated in a brougham with her husband, on their way to dine with some friends in Cromwell Road). We shall be dreadfully late, I know we shall! I'm sure Peacock could go faster than this if he liked—he always loses his head when there's much traffic. Do tell him to make haste! Mr. F. Better let him alone—he knows what he's doing. Mrs. F. I don't believe he does, or he wouldn't dawdle like this. If you won't speak to him, I must. (Lets down the glass and puts out her head.) Peacock! A Blurred Shadow on the Box. Yes, M'm. Mrs. F. What are we stopping for like this? The Shadow. Fog very thick just 'ere, M'm. Can't see what's in front of us, M'm. Mrs. F. It's just as safe to keep moving as to stand still—go on at once. The S. Very good, M'm. (To horse.) Pull urp! [Crash! Voice from the Unseen. What the blanky blank, &c. Peacock. There is suthin in front, M'm. A van, from 'is langwich, M'm.[ 128] Mrs. F. (sinking back). Marmaduke, this is awful. I'd no idea the fog was like this—or I should never have——(With temper.) Really, people have no right to ask one out on such a night. Mr. F. (with the common sense that makes him "so aggravating at times"). Well, Fanny, you could hardly expect 'em to foresee the weather three weeks ahead! Mrs. F. At all events, you might have seen what it was going to be as you came home from the Temple. Then we could have sent a telegram! Mr. F. It seemed to be lifting then, and besides, I—ah—regard a dinner-engagement as a species of kindly social contract, not to be broken except under pressing necessity. Mrs. F. You mean you heard me say there was nothing but cold meat in the house, and you know you'll get a good dinner at the Cordon-Blewitts,—not that we are likely to get there to-night. Have you any idea whereabouts we are? Mr. F. (calmly). None whatever. Mrs. F. Then ask Peacock. Mr. F. (lets down his window, and leans out). Peacock! The Shadow. Sir? Mr. F. Where have we got to now? Peacock. I ain't rightly sure, Sir. Mrs. F. Tell him to turn round, and go home. Mr. F. It's no use going on like this. Turn back. Peacock. I dursn't leave the kerb—all I got to go by, Sir. Mr. F. Then take one of the lamps, and lead the horse. Peacock. It's the young 'orse, Sir. Mr. F. (sinking back). We must put up with it, I suppose. [A smart crack is heard at the back of the carriage. More Voices. Now, then, why the blanky dash, &c., &c. Mrs. F. Marmaduke, I can't sit here, and know that a bus-pole may come between us at any moment. Let us get out, and take a cab home at once. Mr. F. There's only one objection to that suggestion—viz., that it's[ 129] perfectly impossible to tell a cab from a piano-organ. We must find out where we are first, and then turn. Peacock, drive on as well as you can, and stop when you come to a shop. Mrs. F. What do you want to stop at a shop for? Mr. F. Why, then I can go in, and ask where we are. Mrs. F. And how do you expect them to know where we are! (She sees a smear of light in the distance.) Marmaduke, there's a linkman. Get out quick, and hire him to lead the way. Mr. F. (who gets out, and follows in the direction of the light, grumbling to himself). Hallo!—not past the park yet—here's the railings! Well, if I keep close to them, I shall—(He suddenly collides with a bench). Phew! Oh, confound it! (He rubs his shins.) Now, if it hadn't been for Fanny, I—Where's that linkman? Hi!—you there!—stop! (The light stops.) Look here—I want you to come to my carriage, and show my man the way out of this! Voice From Behind the Railings. We got to find our own way out fust, Guv'nor. We're inside! A Belated Reveller (lurching up to Mr. F.) Beg your pardon, bur cou' you dreck me nearesht way—er—Dawshon Plashe? Mr. F. (savagely). First turning to the right, third to the left, and then straight on till you come to it! The B. R. I'm exsheedingly 'blished; (confidentially) fact ish, I'm shuffrin' shli' 'fection eyeshi', an' I 'shure you, can't shee anyshing dishtingly to-ni'. (He cannons against a lamp-post, to which he clings affectionately, as a Policeman emerges from the gloom.) Policeman. Now then, what are you doing 'ere, eh? The B. R. Itsh all ri', P'lishman, thish gerrilman—(patting lamp-post affectionately)—has kindly promished shee me home. Mr. F. Hang it! Where's Peacock and the brougham? (He discovers a phantom vehicle by the kerb, and gets in angrily.) Now, look here, my dear, it's no earthly good—! Occupant of the Brougham. (who is not Fanny). Coward, touch a defenceless woman if you dare! I have nothing on me of any value. Help! Police![ 130] [Mr. F., seeing that explanation is useless, lets himself out again, precipitately, dodges the Policeman, and bolts, favoured by the fog, until all danger of pursuit is passed, at the end of which time he suddenly realizes that it is perfectly hopeless to attempt to find his own carriage again. He gropes his way home, and some hours later, after an extemporised cold supper, is rejoined by his Wife. Mrs. F. (cheerfully). So there you are, Marmaduke! I wasn't anxious—I felt sure you'd find your way back somehow! Mr. F. (not in the best of tempers). Find my way back! It was the only thing I could do. But where have you been all this time, Fanny? Mrs. F. Where? Why, at the Blewitts, to be sure. You see, after you got out, we had to keep moving on, and by and by the fog got better, and we could see where we were going to,—and the Blewitts had put off dinner half an hour, so I was not so very late. Such a nice dinner! Everybody turned up except you, Marmaduke—but I told them how it was. Oh, and old Lady Horehound was there, and said a man had actually got into her brougham, and tried to wrench off one of her most valuable bracelets!—only she spoke to him so severely that he was struck with remorse, or something, and got out again! And it was by the Park, close to where you left me. Just fancy, Marmaduke, he might have got into the carriage with me, instead! Mr. F. (gloomily). Yes, he might—only, he—er—didn't, you know!<div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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