oesn't mind--_do_ you, dear Mrs. SOLNESS?

_Mrs. Herd._ It does not seem to be of much _use_ minding, Miss WANGEL. I
presume you have come to stay?

_Hilda_ (_in amused surprise_). Why, of course--what else should I come
for? I _always_ come to stay, until--h'm!

[_Nods slowly, and sits down at table._

_Dr. Herd._ (_involuntarily_). She's drinking my punch! If she thinks I'm
going to stand this sort of thing, she's mistaken. I'll soon show her a
Pill-Doctor is a very different kind of person from a mere Master Builder!

[HILDA _finishes the punch with an indefinable expression in her eyes,
and_ Dr. HERDAL _looks on gloomily as the Curtain falls. End of First
Act._

* * * * *

"AMONG THE MEMORABLE BOOKS OF THE PRESENT RAINE."--Canon RAINE has just
published (_per_ LONGMANS) his _York_, as one of the series of Historic
Towns. The proofs of RAINE on _York_ of course came very moist from the
press. Is there a frontispiece to it of "RAINE poring over his own book?"
The work is highly spoken of,--so _disons_, "_Vive le Raine!_"

* * * * *

Mr. WILSON BARRETT is to appear in a play called _Pharaoh_--"What the
plague!"--Is he coming out as an Egyptian Mummer? Will the drama prove
interesting to plague-goers?

* * * * *

A FULL MEASURE OF JUSTICE.

(_According to the Modern Method._)

SCENE--_The Old Bailey._ Judge _seated on the Bench, thoroughly
enjoying himself_. Prisoner _in the Dock_. Jurymen _in the Box_.
Counsel, Solicitors, _and_ Public, _in attendance_.

_Judge._ Now I will swear the Jury.

_Officer of the Court._ I beg your Lordship's pardon, but I have always
been accustomed to----

_Judge_ (_interrupting_). Not at all; I will do it myself. You can't give
_me_ too much work. (_Swears the_ Jury.) And now, Prisoner, what do you
plead, guilty or not guilty?

_Prisoner._ Well, my Lord, I should say----

[Illustration]

_Judge._ Not guilty. Quite right, always give yourself the benefit of the
doubt. You can't imagine what stupid Jurymen we have sometimes. Quite right
to say Not guilty. And now who appears for the prosecution?

_Counsel._ I do, my Lord, I----

_Judge._ Glad to see the eminent counsel here, and I know of no one who can
better conduct a case. Still, with my learned friend's or rather my learned
brother's, I should say the learned Counsel's permission, I wil