Chapter 2

_Late evening. REBECCA WEST stands by a lighted lamp, with a shade over it, packing sandwiches, &c., in a reticule, with a faint smile. The antimacassar is on the sofa. Enter ROSMER._

_Rosmer_ (_seeing the sandwiches, &c._). Sandwiches? Then you _are_ going I Why, on earth,--I _can't_ understand!

_Reb._ Dear, you never _can_. Rosmershölm is too much for me. But how did you get on with KROLL?

_Rosmer_. We have made it up. He has convinced me that the work of ennobling men was several sizes too large for me--so I am going to let it alone--

_Reb._ (_with her faint smile_). There I almost think, dear, that you are wise.

_Rosmer_ (_as if annoyed_). What, so _you_ don't believe in me either, REBECCA--you never _did! [Sits listlessly on chair._

_Reb._ Not much, dear, when you are left to yourself--but I've another confession to make.

_Rosmer_. What, _another_? I really can't stand any more confessions just now!

_Reb._ (_sitting close to him_). It is only a little one. I bullied BEATA into the mill-race--because of a wild uncontrollable-- (_ROSMER moves uneasily._) Sit still, dear--uncontrollable fancy--for _you_!

_Rosmer_ (_goes and sits on sofa_). Oh, my goodness, REBECCA--you _mustn't_, you know!

[_He jumps up and down as if embarrassed._

_Reb._ Don't be alarmed, dear, it is all over now. After living alone with you in solitude, when you showed me all your thoughts without reserve,--little by little, somehow the fancy passed off. I caught the ROSMER view of life badly, and dulness descended on my soul as an extinguisher upon one of our Northern dips. The ROSMER view of life is ennobling, very--but hardly lively. And I've more yet to tell you.

_Rosmer_ (_turning it off_). Isn't that enough for one evening P

_Reb._ (_almost voiceless_). No, dear. I have a Past--_behind_ me!

_Rosmer_. _Behind_ you? How strange. I had an idea of that sort already. (_Starts, as if in fear._) A joke! (_Sadly._) Ah, no--_no_, I must not give way to _that_! Never mind the Past, REBECCA; I once thought that I had made the grand discovery that, if one is only virtuous, one will be happy. I see now it was too daring, too original--an immature dream. What bothers me is that I can't--somehow I _can't_--believe entirely in you--I am not even sure that I _have_ ennobled you so very much--_isn't_ it terrible?

_Reb._ (_wringing her hands_). Oh, this killing doubt! (_Looks darkly at him._) Is there anything _I_ can do to convince you?

_Rosmer_ (_as if impelled to speak against his will_). Yes, one thing--only I'm afraid you wouldn't see it in the same light. And yet I must mention it. It is like this. I want to recover faith in my mission, in my power to ennoble human souls. And, as a logical thinker, this I cannot do now, unless--well, unless you jump into the mill-race, too, like BEATA!

_Reb._ (_takes up her antimacassar, with composure, and puts it on her head_). Anything to oblige you.

_Rosmer_ (_springs up_). What? You really _will_! You are _sure_ you don't mind? Then, REBECCA, I will go further. I will even go--yes--as far as you go yourself!

_Reb._ (_bows her head towards his breast_). You will see me off? Thanks. Now you are indeed an Ibsenite.

[_Smiles almost imperceptibly._

_Rosmer_ (_cautiously_). I said as far as _you_ go. I don't commit myself further than that. Shall we go?

_Reb._ First tell me this. Are _you_ going with _me_, or am _I_ going with _you_?

_Rosmer_. A subtle psychological point--but we have not time to think it out here. We will discuss it as we go along. Come!

[_ROSMER takes his hat and stick, REBECCA her reticule, with sandwiches. They go out hand-in-hand through the door, which they leave open. The room (as is not uncommon with rooms in Norway) is left empty. Then Madam HELSETH enters through another door._

_Madam H._ The cab, Miss--not here! (_Looks out._) Out together--at this time of night--upon my--_not_ on the garden-seat? (_Looks out of window._) My goodness! _what_ is that white thing on the bridge--the _Horse_ at last! (_Shrieks aloud._) And those two sinful creatures running home!

_Enter ROSMER and REBECCA, _out of breath._

_Rosmer_ (_scarcely able to get the words out_). It's no use, REBECCA--we must put it off till another evening. We can't be expected to jump off a footbridge which already has a White Horse on it. And, if it comes to that, why should we jump at all? I know now that I really _have_ ennobled you, which was all _I_ wanted. What would be the good of recovering faith in my mission at the bottom of a mill-pond? No, REBECCA--(_lays his hand on her head_)--there is no judge over us, and therefore--

_Reb._ (_interrupting gravely_). We will bind ourselves over in our own recognisances to come up for judgment when called upon.

[_Madam HELSETH holds on to a chair-back, REBECCA finishes the antimacassar calmly as Curtain falls._

* * * * *

A GRAND OLD WETTERUN!

I ain't bin werry well lately, and, to crown the hole, I was cort in the Lizzard, I think, as they called it, on that awful Munday nite, and that was pretty nearly a settler for both my old bones and my breth, and might ha' bin quite so, if one of the werry kindest Members of the old Copperashun as I nos on, who had bin a dining with a jolly party on 'em, hadn't kindly directed my notise to about a harf bottle-full of werry fine old Port, with the remarkabel kind words, "That's just about what you wants, Mr. ROBERT, to take you ome safely this most orful nite!" And so it were, and I didn't waste a single drop on it.

However, I was obligated to have a good long rest, which I took out mostly in sleep; but, jest as I was preparing to set out for the "Grand Hotel," in comes my Son; and he says to me, "Guvnor," says he--I notise as he allers calls me Guvnor when he wants me to do sumthink--"I wants you to do me the favour to ask _Mr. Punch_ for to do you a favour." "Why, what do you mean?" says I. "Why, this is what I means," says he. "About the grandest feller as ewer in the hole world gave up fifty years of his useful life to trying to make hundreds of stupid boys into clever boys, and hundreds of bad boys into good boys, and hundreds of dull boys into witty boys, is a going for to have a testymonial given him by sum of them hundreds of boys, me among 'em, to sellybrate his Jewbilly, same as the QUEEN had the other day. Ewery one of us as lives in London will jump at the chance; but the boys as he turns out from the great City of Lundon Skool is such reel fust-raters, that they gits snapped up direckly by Merchants and peeple, and sent all over the werld for to manidge their warious buzzinesses there, so we don't know how to get at 'em; but as _Mr. Punch_ goes wherever any smart, clever English chap goes, if he wood most kindly let this littel matter be mentioned, the grandest, and sucksessfullest, ay, and wittiest Skool Master of modern times wood get his dew reward."

So says my Sun, and prowd I was to lissen to his words; and this is what I can add to them from my own knowlidg. There's sum of the old boys, as isn't quite as yung as when they left Skool, as has formed a club to dine together sumtimes, and tork of old times, like senserbel fellers as they is; and Mr. JOSEPH HARRIS, the gennelman in question, is allers there, and allers has to make a speech, and I am amost allers there too; and, to hear the joyful shouts of arty welcome with which his old pupils greets him when he rises for to speak, and their roars of larfter at his wit, and his fun, and his good-humer, while he is a speaking, is so wery remarkabel, that I sumtimes wanders whether it doesn't, a good deal of it, rise from the fact of his great School being so close to _Mr. Punch's_ own horfice. But this is over the way, as the great writer says. May I be alowd to had that my speshal frend, and hewerybody's speshal frend, Mr. COOKE, is reddy to receive any number of subskripshuns at 30, New Bridge Street, E.C.

ROBERT.

* * * * *

A NEW PROVIDENCE.--"My life is in your hands," as the Autobiographist said to his Publisher.

* * * * *

THE JOLLY YOUNG WATERMAN.

(_LATEST VERSION; SUGGESTED BY A CASE AT THE LONDON SESSIONS._)

And did you not hear of a jolly young Waterman, Who on the river his wherry did ply? When rowing along with great skill and dexterity, A Cask of Madeira it caught his pleased eye. It looked so nice, he rowed up steadily, Transferred that cask to his boat right readily; And he eyed the dear drink with so eager an air, For the name on the cask not a jot did he care.

When smart EDDARD SAILL got that cask in his wherry, He cleaned it out--partly--with swiggings not small, And with his companions--what wonder?--made merry; Madeira's a wine that's not tippled by all. One fancies one hears 'em a laughing and cheering, Says EDDARD, "My boys, this is better than beering! A Waterman's life would be free from all care If he often dropped on treasure trove like that there."

And yet but to think now how strangely things happen! They copped him for "larceny by finding,"--that's all! But SAILL couldn't read, and the jury was kindly, So EDDARD got off, though his chance appeared small. Now would this young Waterman keep out of sorrow, No derelict casks let him--shall we say, borrow? Madeira is nice, but you'd best have a care, Before swigging the wine, that it's yours fair and square!

* * * * *

OUR BOOKING-OFFICE.

_The Childhood and Youth of Dickens_, a sort of short postscript to FORSTER's Life, very well got up by its publishers HUTCHINSON & Co., will interest those who for the third or fourth time are going through a course of DICKENS.

The Baron is an amateur of pocket-books and note-books. The best pocket-book _must_ contain a calendar-diary, and as little printed matter, and as much space for notes, as possible. No pocket-book is perfect without some sort of patent pencil, of which the writing-metal, when used on a damp surface, will serve as well as do pen and ink on ordinary paper. Such a pocket-book with such a pencil the Baron has long had in use, the product of JOHN WALKER & Co., of Farringdon House. It should be called _The Walker Pocket-book, or Pedestrian's Companion_; for, as "He who runs may read," so, with this handy combination, "He who walks may write." The Baron is led to mention this _à propos_ of a novelty by T.J. SMITH AND DOWNES, called _The Self-registering Pocket Note-book_, a very neat invention, _quâ_ Note-book only, but of which only one size has the invaluable patent pencil. The ordinary pencil entails carrying a knife, and, though this is good for the cutler--"I know that man, he comes from Sheffield"--yet it is a defect which is a constant source of worry to the ordinary note-taker. Otherwise, Messrs. SMITH AND DOWNES' artfulness in making the pencil serve as a marker, so that the latest note can at once be found, is decidedly ingenious, and may probably be found most useful. _Experientia docet: Baronius tentabit._

While on the subject of pocket-books, the Baron must thank Messrs. CASSELL & Co. for the pocket volumes of the _National Library_ edited by HENRY MORLEY, and ventures to recommend as a real travelling companion, _Essays, Civil and Moral, by Francis Bacon_. In the eighteenth Essay "Of Travel," the chief Diarists, "LETTS AND SON," might find a motto for _their_ publications. The Baron directs their attention to this side of BACON from which this is a slice,--"_Let Diaries, therefore, be brought in use_." A new reading for advertising purposes would change "Let" into "Letts," or Letts could be interpolated in brackets. "A cheeky way of treating BACON," says the Baron's friend little FUNNIMAN (Author of _Funniman's Poor Jokes_); but, if nothing worse than this can be said against the Baron's suggestion, why, "Letts adopt it," says

THE BARON DE BOOK-WORMS.

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* * * * *

PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.

"In the words of the Postmaster-General, spoken yesterday (March 18th) from his room in St. Martin's-le-Grand, and distinctly heard by the head of a corresponding department in Paris, the triumph of the International Telephone is an accomplished fact."--_Daily News_.

_Hallo!--are you there_? That's the cue international, Henceforth we'll hope, and we trust it may lead To colloquies pleasant, relations more rational. May "saucers" and tubes telephonic succeed In setting the world "by the ears," in a fashion Not meant by the men who invented that phrase. May nail-biting nagging and rancorous passion Die out, like a craze!

Why, bless us, and save us! We _ought_ to behave us A little bit better for all our new light. From incurable savagery nothing can save us If Science can't cool down our fondness for fight. With so many chances of "talking things over," Like comrades in council, across the broad sea, Nations ought to be nice, as a girl and her lover At five o'clock tea!

Eh? _Vox et præterea nihil_? What matter How close ears may seem if the hearts are apart? Humph! Nothing go easy as cynical chatter; Distrust's diplomatic, and satire sounds "smart." But, as RAIKES suggests, there _is_ something in hearing The "great human voice" o'er some three hundred miles, In spite of the scorn that's so given to sneering, The hate that reviles.

One wonders what TALLEYRAND, subtle old schemer! Would think of the Telephone were _he_ alive. Wits sniff at the _savant_, and mock at the dreamer, Who else, though, so hard for humanity strive? BELLONA's sworn backers are woefully numerous; Peace, let us pray, may claim this as _her_ friend; The "Sentiment" flouted by swashbucklers humorous Sways, at the end.

If language was given our thoughts for concealing, The Telephone--'tis but a travelling Voice!-- Need not be the agent of reckless revealing, And caution must often be candour's wise choice. Unwisdom is sure to be sometimes caught napping, And tongues may wag foolishly e'en through the wire. Facilities freer for summary snapping No sage can desire.

Great diplomats, proud of their "able dispatches," From trusting the tube with their wisdom may shrink. The brain that in secret shrewd policies hatches, May not care to canvas 'cute schemes "o'er a drink." Yet times must be many when sense will be winner By chatting of trifles, which nations have riled, As freely as though _vis-à-vis_ at a dinner, And carefully "tiled."

Now England and France can thus gossip together, And CARNOT and SALISBURY thus hob-a-nob, We'll hope for set-fair international weather. Our RAIKES and their ROCHE appear well "on the job." The Telephone's triumph at least is not sinister. Things should go easier somehow--with care, When patriot Minister greets patriot Minister, "_Hallo!--are you there?_"

* * * * *

ANOTHER TELEPHONIC SUGGESTION.--Connect the Theatres and Opera Houses by Telephone with all the Clubs. On payment of a fixed charge, any member should be able to hear just as much of the piece or Opera as he might require. Something above the price of a Stall to be the maximum charge for one person to hear entire Opera. For half the Opera, say six shillings; for a quarter of it, three-and-six. For hearing one song in it, eighteen-pence; and, if certain songs be in great demand, the prices could be raised.

* * * * *

EPIGRAMMATIC DEFINITION OF MOST PUBLIC BANQUETS WITH POSTPRANDIAL ORATORY.--"Stuff and Nonsense."

* * * * *

* * * * *

* * * * *

HANDS AS THEY ARE SHOOK.

(_NEW STYLE._)

In healthier times, when friends would meet Their friends in chamber, park, or street, Each, as hereunder, each would greet.

Tour level hand went forth; you clasped Your crony's; each his comrade's grasped-- If roughly, neither friend was rasped.

Such was the good old-fashioned one Of honest British "How d'ye do?" I think it manly still--don't you?

But _now_, when smug acquaintance hails A set that would be "smart," but fails, Another principle prevails.

The arm, in lifted curve displayed, Droops limply o'er the shoulder-blade, As needing some chirurgeon's aid:

The wrist is wrenched of JONES and BROWN, Those ornaments of London Town; Their listless fingers dribble down:

BROWN reaches to the knuckle-bones Of thus-excruciated JONES; BROWN's hand the same affliction owns.

At length his finger-tips have pressed The fingers of his JONES distressed: Both curvatures then sink to rest.

A sort of anguish lisped proceeds Prom either's mouth, but neither heeds The other's half-heroic deeds.

Exhausted, neither much can say; Complacent, each pursues his way; And JONES and BBOWN have lived to-day.

For both have sought by strenuous strain To demonstrate, in face of pain, That friends they were, and friends remain.

Ah, wonderful! Can Poets deem Self-sacrifice a fading dream? Are salutations what they seem?

Is BROWN some Altruist in disguise, And JONES an Ibsenite likewise, That thus they flop and agonise?--

Or are the pair affected fools, Who catch by rote the silly rules Of third-rate fashionable schools?

* * * * *

COURT COLD!

(_A PAGE FROM THE DIARY OF A CHAPERON._)

They commanded her to rise early. She knew that the day's doings would be a terrible ordeal, but she came of a bold and sturdy race, and felt herself equal to any emergency. And so as the morning broke--as daylight crept through the foggy air--she prepared for the sacrifice. Yes, sacrifice; for was it not a sacrifice to barter away youth, pride, nay, life itself! And I had a hand in the matter! Ah, me--but away with vain regret!

I have been told since that they were hours and hours arranging her toilette. So long did it take that she was scarcely able to break her fast. She had, I believe, a cup of tea, and if rumour is to be credited, a couple of slices of thin bread-and-butter! Well, it is over now, and I can think of it almost without tears!

I called for her shortly after noon--for the lot had fallen upon me, and I was destined to attend her to her doom--she was very calm, and even smiled as I kissed her. She shivered a little as she sank beside me. I bade her to wrap her shawl more closely around her, and after she had complied with my command she seemed more at ease.

And now our conveyance had come to a full stop. We were surrounded by a sea of vulgar, hideous faces, grinning and mocking at us! My charge clung to me for protection. The laughter and the jeers increased tenfold. Then I cast her away from me roughly, whereupon followed yells mixed with savage laughter. She, poor girl, regained her composure, and gazed at the multitude with the dignity of an outraged queen. And _they_ laughed the more! Laughed the more!

At length we were set free, and made our way to a large apartment, where we were divested of our wraps, and left in costumes better adapted to late June than to early March, or mid-December. We were then ordered to advance. We were driven from one bitterly cold room to another, until we knew not whether the blood was circulating in our veins, or had frozen. We had many fellow-sufferers, and these poor creatures pushed against us, and fought with us. The great object of everyone was to get to the end of our journey!

She staggered bravely along, until at last they took away the yards of satin she carried round her arm, and spread it out behind. Then her name was uttered, or, rather, mispronounced. She sank on her knees; and, on regaining her feet, was hustled away, to follow a number of fellow-victims who had been treated with like indignity.

Once more there was the bitter cold. This time the draughts were met in that hall, and endured, until the conveyance arrived to move us on--she to stand for a couple of hours amidst gossiping friends, and I to go to bed.

But the seeds of death were sown! She never recovered the shock, and an addition to the inscriptions above the family-vault tells of her early decease!

And who was this poor girl? A homeless one, wandering the streets of London? or a political prisoner, on her way to Siberia? Neither! She was merely a _débutante_, attending her first (and last) Spring Drawing-room at Buckingham Palace!

* * * * *

NOTE (_by Our Own Noodle_).--_Father Buonaparte_, at the Olympic, judging from the account of it in the _Times_, seems to consist of "a part" for our WILSON BARRETT, the remainder being skeletonish, or "boney."

* * * * *

* * * * *

RAIKES REX!

Somebody once said that ultimately the Solar System would probably become a branch of the General Post Office. The present Postmaster-General is obviously of opinion that that state of things has already come about.

To rule a realm as limitless as space, With the great G.P.O. as Central Sun, RAIKES is the man. Of Great Panjandrum race, He's Autocrat and Oracle in one. The Universe indeed were no great shakes Without RAIKES _Rex_ for Ruler. _Vivat_ RAIKES!!!

* * * * *

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

EXTRACTED FROM THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P.

_House of Commons, Monday, March_ 16.--House of Commons really looked to-night as if it meant fighting. No lack of matter for quarrel. Even before public business was reached, Orders bristled with Motions raising controversial points. Lord CHUNNEL-TANNEL, that man of peace, was to the fore; his Bill, extending Manchester. Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway into London _via_ Lord's Cricket Ground, down for Second Reading. That redoubtable Parliamentary Archer BAUMANN also on alert. Has taken under his personal charge the social and material welfare of Metropolis; at one time HARRY LAWSON, on other side of House, disputed supremacy of position with him. But, as SARK says, BAUMANN has immense advantage of making Liberal speeches from Conservative side.

"If," says SARK, "I had to begin my Parliamentary life again, I would sit for a Tory borough, and advocate Radical notions. If it were possible, I would, with such a programme, like to represent one of the Universities, Oxford for choice. There's a sameness about fellows who fret up from Liberal benches and spout Radicalism, or about men who talk Toryism from the Conservative camp. It's what was expected; what the House of Commons enjoys is the unexpected. GRANDOLPH knows that very well. If he'd come out as a Liberal, he wouldn't have been half the power he is. The secret of success in political life, my young friend, is to sit in darkness, and clothe yourself with light. The thing doesn't hold good in the converse direction. A man sitting on Liberal benches, and talking Toryism, will gain cheers from other side, but not much else. Look at HORSMAN in the past; look at JOKIM in the present. Certainly he is CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER; but, even with that, I suppose you wouldn't call him a political success?"

SARK a little prosy and opinionated; otherwise a good fellow. Whilst his homily in progress ground considerably cleared. Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Bill put oft till to-morrow; Kensington Subway Bill withdrawn; BAUMANN triumphant. Still remained public business; OLD MORALITY led off with proposal to take Tuesdays and Fridays for morning sittings and Opposition mustered in great force; Mr. G. present, glowing with his own eulogy on ARTEMIS. OLD MORALITY moved Resolution with deprecatory deferential manner; only desire was to do his duty to QUEEN and Country and meet the convenience of Honourable Gentlemen sitting in whatever part of the House they might find themselves. Evidently expected outburst of indignant refusal, long debate, and a big division. Some indignation, but little debate and no division. Everyone on Opposition Benches seemed to expect some one else to declare himself irreconcilable. When question put, a pause; no one rose to continue the successive brief speeches; before you could say JAMES FERGUSON, Government had, on this 16th of March, practically secured all working time for remainder of Session.

"I feel like CLIVE," said OLD MORALITY; "or was it WARREN HASTINGS? Anyhow I am amazed at my own moderation."

_Business done_,--Morning Sittings arranged for rest of Session.

_Tuesday_.--"Lords" and Commons came in conflict to-day under novel circumstances. Lord TANNEL-CHUNNEL, pending settlement of question about making his Channel Tunnel, is promoting new trunk line of railway. Means to bring the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincoln line straight into London; terminus comes in by Lord's Cricket Ground; invades the sweet simplicity of St. John's Wood; artistic population of that quarter up in arms; shriek protest in Lord CHUNNEL-TANNEL's ear, and shake at him the angry fist. But TANNEL-CHUNNEL not a Baron easily turned aside from accomplishment of his projects. Squares Committee of "Lords"; impresses into support of his scheme representatives of all the big towns on the route; Manchester, Nottingham, Leicester, all cheer him on; Liberals, Conservatives, Dissentient Liberals, swell his majority. Second Reading of Bill carried by more than two to one.

"How's that, Umpire?" CHUNNEL-TANNEL asked, carrying out his bat. "Well played, indeed!" said the SPEAKER.

Seemed at one time as if blood would flow, and gore would stain the floor of House. BARNES and WIGGINS were in it, but what it was all about not quite clear. Something to do with a coal-truck. As far as could be made out from choked utterances of BARNES, there had at some remote period been a coal-truck despatched to London by the Midland route. Something happened to it; either it was delayed, or it arrived empty, or it didn't arrive at all. However, it was quite clear to BARNES that the time had come when a new line of railway giving direct access to London from the Midlands was an urgent necessity. WIGGINS observed to be wriggling in his seat during the BARNES oration. Made several attempts to catch SPEAKER's eye; at length succeeded; his suppressed fury was terrible to behold: his rage Titanic. He at least knew all about that coal-truck; though, as far as House was concerned, he did not succeed in lifting the mystery in which BARNES had enveloped it. Whether it was WIGGINS's coal, or merely WIGGINS's truck; whether WIGGINS happened to be in the truck when it went astray; or whether it was BARNES that was in it; or whether nothing was in it but the coal; or whether, coming back to an earlier point, there was no coal in the truck when it did (or did not) arrive at St. Pancras: these were questions the House vainly pursued, withered, as it was, under the wrath of WIGGINS The only point clearly perceived was, that BIGGINS is a director of Midland Railway.

In ordinary circumstances there are not to be found in House two more affable men than BARNES and WIGGINS. Amongst many other virtues, WIGGINS is, SARK tells me, one of the best judges of cigars in House, and is never without a sample in his case. It is sad to think that a man so gifted by nature, so favoured by fortune, should let his angry passions rise round a coal-truck. House, contemplating the episode, glad to shut it out by rushing off to Division Lobby. _Business done_.--Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway Bill, Read a Second Time, by 212 Votes to 103.

_Thursday_.--House engaged in considering Lords' Amendments to Tithes Bill. Things as dull as usual; House nearly empty; walk about corridors through tea-room, newspaper-room, and library; almost deserted; in smoking-room came upon little group playing cards; three of them; SOLICITOR-GENERAL, CHABLES RUSSELL, and ASQUITH, LOCKWOOD looking on.

"I suppose," I said, "they're playing whist; why don't you make up the hand?"

"Whisht! it's not whist!" LOCKWOOD whispered, keeping his eye closely fixed on game. "It's Baccarat. (Ah! CLARKE! I saw you. Come, pay up. You did that very clumsily.) It's the Tranby Court case you know. I'm not in it, but my learned brethren here hold briefs on either side, and they say they are bound, in the interests of their clients, to master the intricacies of the game. I must say they have managed very successfully to subordinate their horror of gambling. RUSSELL, you know, has a positive distaste for any game of chance. But as he says, a Barrister must sometimes put his prejudices in his pocket. ASQUITH brings to the game a serious aspect that positively sanctifies it. As for EDWARD CLARKE, he's wonderfully nimble. He was trying _la poucette_ just now when I called out to him. As everything turns upon this, my learned friends say they must make themselves acquainted with it. But I hope it won't lead to any breaking up of families. I'm told the Judges who are likely to be trying cases in London before Whitsuntide, impelled by a similar sense of duty, are also studying Baccarat. The L.C.J. is reported to have developed a wonderful talent. As a family man, and Recorder of Sheffield, I'm glad I'm not briefed in the case."

_Business done_.--Tithes Bill.

_Friday_.--Young HARRY LAWSON, with his beaver up, moved Resolution approving the opening for certain hours, and under special regulations, of the National Museums and Galleries, closed in London to the public on Sundays, made capital and convincing speech; supported by men like JOHN LUBBOCK, and, from Conservative side, MAYNE and ELCHO. Earlier in sitting, the voice of Whitechapel, Hoxton, Shoreditch, and Bethnal Green, had been heard by petition, praying for the boon. But dear old ROBERT FOWLER knows better what is good for the people. Opposed Motion. OLD MORALITY, who never goes into his picture gallery at Greenlands after midnight on Saturday, whipped up Government forces; Motion lost by 166 against 39.

Mr. BUNG, who had been watching Debate from Distinguished Strangers' Gallery, hugely delighted. "S'elp me," he said, "that'll stop their little game for this Parliament, at least. What do they mean hinterfering with honest tradesmen? If you go opening your bloomin' mooseums and picter galleries on Sunday afternoons, _what's to become of ME?_"

_Business done_.--Mr. BUNG's; and very effectively, too.

* * * * *

"FLAT, STALE, AND UNPROFITABLE."

HAMPDEN, farewell! Ere this you may have found The World you swore was flat is really round. But many a man, with brains beneath his hat. Swears that the World is round, and finds it flat.

* * * * *

THE OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE BOAT-RACE.

(_MARCH 21. OXFORD WON BY HALF A LENGTH._)

Great ZEUS! was ever such a race since 1829, When WORDSWORTH, SELWYN, MERIVALE began the mighty line, First of the stalwart heroes who matched their straining thews, And on great Thames's tide have fought the battle of the Blues? Who writes of pampered softness? Confusion on his pen: Still is there pluck in England, and still her sons are Men. And still the lads go gaily forth in snow, or wind, or rain, With hearts elate to row the race, and spurt, and spurt again. A health to you, brave AMPTHILL; the cheering echoes far; For FLEICHER and the NICKALLS' lads--_nobile fratrum par_. A shout goes up for WILKINSON, the stalwart and the strong, For REGGIE ROWE, and dauntless KENT, who kept the stroke so long. For POOLE, the tidy bowman, and HEYWOOD-LONSDALE too; Thrice thirty cheers for all of them, that gallant Oxford Crew. Nor,--though the years speed onward, and others wield the oar, Though others race and win or lose where we have raced before; Though others, while we watch the sport, should play as we have played, And scorn us prosy greybeards--shall ELIN's glory fade? NOBLE, and LORD, and FRANCKLYN, they each shall have their cheer, And BRADDON, small, but quick of eye, who craftily did steer, And ROWLATT, and FOGG-ELLIOTT, and LANDALE, of the Hall, And FISON, sturdy Corpus man--we cheer and praise them all. _Punch_ loves all sturdy men and true, by whom great deeds are done, And toasts and cheers with all his might the Crews of '91.

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LEGAL MAXIMS.

(_Suggestions for alteration and adaptation to Modern Manners and Customs, after the Jackson decision by the Court of Appeal._)

_Common Law_.--"The tradition of ages shall prevail," save when it runs counter to the opinions of a leader-writer of a daily paper.

_Equity_.--(1). "No right shall be without a remedy," save when it is sentimentally suggested that somebody's right may be somebody else's wrong.

(2.) "Equity follows the law," at such a distance that it never comes up with it.

(3.) "Equity is equality," save when a man's wife is literally his better half.

(4.) "Where there is equal equity the law must prevail," in any view it pleases to take at the instance of the Lord Chancellor for the time being.

(5.) "Where the equities are equal the law prevails," in any course it likes to pursue.

(6.) "Equity looks upon that as done which is agreed to be done," especially when, after obtaining legal relief, the suitor ultimately finds himself sold.

_Contracts_.--(1.) "All contracts are construed according to the intentions of the parties," save where one of them subsequently changes his mind.

(2.) "The construction should be liberal" enough to suit the fancy of the Judge who enforces it.

(3.) "It should be favourable" to a long and angry correspondence in all the principal newspapers.

(4) "The contract should in general be construed according to the law of the country where made," but certainly not in particular.

(5.) "That testimony cannot be given to vary, but may to explain a written contract," save when someone suggests that this practice shall be reversed.

(6.) "He who employs an agent does it himself," unless it is considered advisable to take an opposite view of the matter.

_Parent and Child_.--"A father shall have the custody of his children," except when they get beyond his control and defy his authority.

_Landlord and Tenant_.--"A landlord has a right to receive his rent," if the tenant does not spend the money on something else.

_Husband and Wife_.--"A man has a right to the society of his wife." when she does not prefer to give her company elsewhere.

_Birthright of an Englishman. (Popular traditionally but strictly speaking supplementary_.)--"An Englishman's house is his castle," but only the _pied à terre_ of the lawfully wedded sharer of his income.

OLD FATHER ANTIC.

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QUEER QUERIES.--CLIMATE OF THE BRITISH ISLES.--As the Gulf Stream produces such an effect on the English climate, would it not be feasible to add to the heat of the water in some way--say, by erecting powerful furnaces somewhere on the south coast of Florida, or by turning the lava from a volcano in the neighbourhood of the Gulf into the sea? I am not a man of science, but I should be glad to hear your opinion of the scheme.--SUFFERER FROM COLD.

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