~Omnes (in various keys and time)~. "That you lo-oved me sti-ill the same." ~Mr. Bouncer (to Mr. Green, alluding remotely to the opera)~. "Now my Bohemian gal, can't you come out to-night? Spit us out a yard or two more, Giglamps." ~Mr. Verdant Green (who has again taken the opportunity to clear his throat)~. "I dreamt that I dwe-elt in mar-arble- no! I beg pardon! sang that (~desperately~) - that sui-uitors sou-ught my hand, that knights on their (~hic~) ben-ended kne-e-ee - had (~hic~) riches too gre-eat to" - (~Mr. Verdant Green smiles benignantly upon the company~) - "Don't rec'lect anymo." ~Mr. Bouncer (who is not to be defrauded of the chorus)~. "Chorus, gentlemen! - That you'll lo-ove me sti-ill the sa-a-hame!" ~Omnes (ad libitum)~. "That you'll lo-ove me sti-ill the same!" Though our hero had ceased to sing, he was still continuing to clear his throat by the aid of the milk-punch, and was again industriously sucking his cigar, which he had not yet succeeded in getting half through, although he had re-lighted it about twenty times. All this was observed by the watchful eyes of Mr. Bouncer, who, whispering to his neighbour, and bestowing a distributive wink on the company generally, rose and made the following remarks:- "Mr. Smalls, and gents all: I don't often get on my pins to trouble you with a neat and appropriate speech; but on an occasion like the present, when we are honoured with the presence of a party who has just delighted us with what I may call a flood of harmony (~hear, hear~), - and has pitched it so uncommon strong in the vocal line, as to considerably take the shine out of the woodpecker-tapping, that we've read of in the pages of history (~hear, hear: "Go it again, Bouncer!"~), - when, gentlemen, I see before me this old original Little Wobbler, - need I say that I allude to Mr. Verdant Green? - (~vociferous cheers~)- I feel it a sort of, what you call a privilege, d'ye see, to stand on my pins, and propose that respected party's jolly good health (~renewed cheers~). Mr. Verdant Green, gentlemen, has but lately come among us, and is, in point of fact, what you call a freshman; but, gentlemen, we've already seen enough of him to feel aware that - that Brazenface has gained an acquisition, which - which - (~cries of "Tally-ho! Yoicks! Hark forrud!"~) Exactly so, gentlemen: so, as I see you are all anxious to do honour to our freshman, I beg, without further preface, to give you the health of Mr. Verdant Green! With all the honours. Chorus, gents! [76 ADVENTURES OF MR. VERDANT GREEN]