H.M.S. "PINAFORE"
board" and would have said it if he had had his temper under proper control.
Josephine clung to Ralph and declared that as he was to be shut up in a cell, she would go with him, but they were violently torn asunder, and, a pair of handcuffs having been placed on Ralph's wrists by the serjeant of the marines, he was taken away in custody. At this point Sir Joseph became calm and coherent again.
"And as for you, Miss Corcoran—" he began, but before he could say what he was going to say (whatever it was) Little Buttercup came forward, and exclaimed "Hold!"
"Why?" Sir Joseph asked, not unnaturally.
"Because I have a tale to unfold," she replied.
"We are all attention," said Sir Joseph." Proceed."
And Little Buttercup proceeded thus:
A many years ago,
When I was young and charming,
As some of you may know,
I practised baby-farming,[1]
The crew were most interested in this piece of
- ↑ By 'baby-farming' she meant that she earned her living by taking in little children to nurse, while their Papas and Mamas were travelling on the Continent.
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