Herbert James Draper Pot Pourri

Herbert James Draper Pot PourriHerbert James Draper Portrait Of Miss Barbara De SelincourtHerbert James Draper Day and the DawnstarGeorge Inness The Delaware Water GapGeorge Inness Spring
'S'all right,' he said, to the bar at large. 'He don't mean it, he ver' funny wossname, idiot. Fool. Ver' funny Fool, all way from wassisplace.'
'Lancre,' said the Fool, and sat down heavily on the bar.
'S'right. Long way away from wossname, sounds like foot disease. Don't know how to behave. Don't know many dwarfs.'
'Hahaha,' said the Fool, clutching his head. 'Bit short of them where I come from.'
Someone tapped Hwel on the shoulder. He turned and looked into a craggy, hairy face under an iron helmet. The dwarf in question was tossing a throwing axe up and down in a meaningful way.
'You ought to tell your friend to be a bit less funny,' he suggested. 'Otherwise he will be amusing the demons in Hell!'
Hwel squinted at him through the alcoholic haze.
'Who're you?' he .
'Here, you're not with the theatre?'
'Tha's us,' said Tomjon. 'Strolling players.' He corrected himself. 'Standing-still players nowsaid.'Grabpot Thundergust,' said the dwarf, striking his chain-mailed torso. 'And I say—'Hwel peered closer.'Here, I know you,' he said. 'You got a cosmetics mill down Hobfast Street. I bought a lot of greasepaint off you last week—'A look of panic crossed Thundergust's face. He leaned forward in panic. 'Shutup, shutup,' he whispered.'That's right, it said the Halls of Elven Perfume and Rouge Co.,' said Hwel happily.'Ver' good stuff,' said Tomjon, who was trying to stop himself from sliding off the tiny bench. 'Especially your No. 19, Corpse Green, my father swears it's the best. First class.'The dwarf hefted-his axe uneasily. 'Well, er,' he said. 'Oh. But. Yes. Well, thank you. Only the finest ingredients, mark you.''Chop them up with that, do you?' said Hwel innocently, pointing to the axe. 'Or is it your night off?'Thundergust's brows beetled again like a cockroach convention