“Stand by to hoist the to’gallant sheet anchor! Take a pull on the weather lee scuppers, my hearties! Let the mizzen binnacle go with a run!”
MONA. (_Clapping her hands with delight._) I like to hear you talk. Go on! What fun!
PRINCE DOODLE. (_Disgusted at interruption._) That’s all.
MONA. (_Disappointed._) That’s not the end?
PRINCE DOODLE. ’Twon’t take a minuit. The ship she gave a lurch; and—left us in it. Then to a hen coop clung the crew of forty-five;
MONA. They’re drowned? (_clasping her hands in horror._)
PRINCE DOODLE. Oh, not at all; they’re all alive. They flew away.
PRINCE DOODLE. No; geese, my dear! I’m rather mixed. Perhaps my head is queer. Listen, and I’ll a tale unfold to harrow——
PRINCE DOODLE. (_Loud chord, and tremulo music through the following._) I have an uncle!
PRINCE DOODLE. Some years ago, my poor papa, felt poorly; Took to his bed, and—died—they say most queerly. My uncle deals in magic? See you?
PRINCE DOODLE. My parent gone, th’ apparent heir was I! To gain the throne he wished that I should die. And then, because I couldn’t see why he, Instead of I, the nation’s king should be; He shipped me off, alone, to go to _see_, Alone I said! not so! off was I cast With four and forty geese before the mast! His parting words were these:—“Return, my dear, (Of course the whole thing was a jibe and sneer) When’ere a mermaid’s heart you hold in hand, And four and forty men before me stand, In place of all these geese I send as crew. ’Till then—‘O reservoir!’ my boy! adieu!”
PRINCE DOODLE. He seized my brother; And swore we ne’er again should see each other Until this mermaid I should meet, so kind, And then a mountain full of diamonds find. The thing is absurd! There are no mermaids here, My uncle has the thro_wn_; I’m _pitched out_ clear!
MONA. The diamond mountain of the Gnome King, see
It’s full of diamonds: full as full can be.
PRINCE DOODLE. What’s that you say? That mountain! It’s all rock. Diamonds inside! Oh, come! you only mock! I’d like to see my brother—
PRINCE DOODLE. Oh! I’m a Prince, Prince Doodle.
PRINCE DOODLE. My kingdom’s in Cockagne, you must have heard Of Cock-a-doodle-do. (_She shakes head._) That noble bird Was a remote progenitor. Indeed, Our pedigree, by Darwin, you can read.