"I want to be Queen Mab, papa, but Armine wants to be Perseus with
the Gorgon's head, and Jock is the dragon; but the dragon will come
before we've put Polly upon the rock."

"What! is Polly Andromeda—-?" as a grey parrot's stand was being
transferred from the balcony.

"Yes, papa," called out Armine. "You see she's chained, and Bobus
won't play, and Babie will be Queen Mab-—"

"I suppose," said the mother, "that it is not harder to bring Queen
Mab in with Perseus than Oberon with Theseus and Hippolyta-—"

"You would have us infer," said the Doctor with grave humour, "that
your children are at their present growth in the Elizabethan age of
culture—-"

But again began a "Well, but papa!" but, he exclaimed, "Do look at
that boy—- Well walloped, dragon!" as Jock with preternatural
contortions, rolled, kicked and tumbled himself with extended jaws to
the rock, alias stand, to which Polly was chained, she remarking in a
hoarse, low whisper, "Naughty boy—-"

"Well moaned, Andromeda!"

"But papa," persisted Janet, "when Oliver Cromwell-—"

"Oh! look at the Gorgon!" cried the mother, as the battered head of
an ancient doll was displayed over his shoulder by Perseus, decorated