The Humourous Poetry of the English Language

462
COLLISIONS, AND HIS BREATH BEING TAKEN AWAY BY A POKE OR A PUSH
BETWEEN EACH BAR, HE IS CARRIED AWAY BY THE STREAM OF
PASSENGERS.
ENTER BROWN AND JONES. MEETING, THEY STOP AND SHAKE HANDS MOST
CORDIALLY FOR SEVERAL MINUTES.
BROWN. How are you, JONES?
JONES.Why, BROWN, I do declare
'Tis quite an age since you and I have met.
BROWN. I'm quite delighted.
JONES. I'm extremely glad.
[An awkward pause
BROWN. Well! and how are you?
JONES. Thank you, very well;
And you, I hope are well?
BROWN. Quite well, I thank you.
[Another awkward pause.
JONES. Oh!--by the way--have you seen THOMSON lately?
BROWN. Not very lately. (After a pause, and as if struck
with a happy idea). But I met with SMITH--
A week ago.
JONES. Oh! did you though, indeed?
And how was SMITH?
Brown. Why, he seemed pretty well
[Another long pause; at the end of which both appear as
if they were going to speak to each other.
JONES. I beg your pardon.
SMITH.You were going to speak?