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THE YOUNG STAGERS

the convenience of the Headsman; pinned a large Union Jack skirt-wise around her waist; and made those preparations, as to the upper portion of her person, which usually preceded the washing of her neck. Being a Queen, she placed an inverted brass bowl over the precarious "bun" by way of a crown, but experienced considerable difficulty in preventing this well-known adjunct and symbol of Royalty from tilting forward and obscuring the vision of one eye. Being thus "armed and well prepared," she sank gracefully to the ground, in the attitude depicted, and awaited the Executioner. The Executioner had done himself proud. With burnt cork he had made an excellent simulation of a mask, and had given himself the kind of beard and moustache worn by all the Best Executioners. A condemned soiled-linen bag, inverted, and provided with three holes, gave full play to his arms and head, if not to his legs. On his head he wore, by way of a Black Cap, a small milk-saucepan. It was certainly black.

The Queen bandaged her eyes—or, to be