into a frog a nice one will always turn you back quite
soon. It's all right. You mustn't worry about _that_. There won't be
any fun if you don't come too, darlin'," she ended shamelessly.

I considered.

"Veronica," I said at last, "is there such a thing as Ireland in
Fairyland? Is there an exchange that won't keep steady? Is there any
labour trouble?"

She shook her head.

"I've never heard of anyfing that sounded like those," she said; "I'm
sure there isn't."

"That decides it," I said. "We'll all come. As soon as you can
possibly arrange it."

She heaved a sigh of relief and ran off to tell the glad news to the
butterflies and hollyhocks.

So that's settled.

I think we've made a wise decision.

After all, what's a witch or two, or even a temporary existence as a
frog, compared with a coal strike?

* * * * *

THE WAIL OF THE WASP.

When that I was a tiny grub,
And peevish and inclined to blub,
Mother, my Queen,
My infant grief you would assuage
With promise of the ripe greengage
And purple sheen
Of luscious plums,
"When Autumn comes."

The Autumn days are flying fast;
Across the bleak skies overcast
Scurries the wind;
Where are those plums of purple hue,
Mother? I only wish that you
Had disciplined
My pampered youth
To face the truth.

The time for wasps is nearly done,
And what is life without the sun,
Mother, my Queen?
Dull stupor numbs your royal head;
Torpid my sisters lie--or dead;
Come, let me lean
Back on my sting
And end the thing.

* * * * *

SUGGESTIONS FOR A GENERAL PAPER.

(_For the benefit of the Examiners in the Oxford School of English
Literature._)

(1) Compare, in respect of pulpit oratory, (_a_) Dr. SOUTH with
"WOODBINE WILLIE," and (_b_) Dr. MICHAEL FURSE (Bishop of St. Albans)
with the JUDICIOUS HOOKER.

(2) Give reasons in support of Mr. BEVERLEY NICHOLLS' emendation of
the lines in _The Ancient Mariner_--

The wedding guest he beat his breast,
For he heard the proud SASSOON.

(3) Re-write "Tears, idle tears" in the style of (_a_) Dr. JOHNSON,
(_b_) CALISTHENES, (_c_) the SITWELLS.

(4) What do you know of CASANOVA, KARSAVINA, CAGLIOSTRO, KENNEDY
JONES, Captain PETER WRIGHT, EPSTEIN, ECKSTEIN and EINSTEIN? When did
Sir OLIVER LODGE say t