Page:Dr Stiggins, His Views and Principles.pdf/141

 after supper I took Mr. Laskin aside, and said:

"I have a suggestion to make, which I think you will find calculated to add to the pleasure of the delightful evening we have all spent."

"What is it, doctor?" he said. "Let's hear about it, by all means."

"Well," I said, "I daresay you have heard of tableaux vivants, as they are called; the idea is that people should group themselves in such a way and in such costume as to suggest some well-known picture or event. Now, I propose that your three daughters, Minnie, Lizzie and Muriel should take off all their clothes and see how well they can remind us of that pretty group I notice on the side-table."

You may imagine my host's consternation at this proposal, and it was some time before he was convinced that I had not fallen a victim to a sudden attack of mania. At last, however, my real meaning dawned upon him, and I could see that he was a good deal ashamed. The