[Illustration: _SCIENCE STUDENTS._ SO FOND OF ASTRONOMY, THAT THEY ARE ALWAYS ON THE BALCONY, LOOKING FOR THE COMET!] [Illustration: _A SPECIMEN OF PLUCK._ _Ruggles._ "HOLD HARD, MASTER GEORGE. IT'S TOO WIDE, AND UNCOMMON DEEP!" _Master George._ "ALL RIGHT, RUGGLES! WE CAN BOTH _SWIM_!"] [Illustration: _A FACT._ _Short-sighted Officer._ "SERGEANT! GET THAT MAN'S HAIR CUT IMMEDIATELY!"] [Illustration: _MATTER OF OPINION._ _Miss Matilda._ "GO ON, FIDO!--THERE'S ONE GREAT DRAWBACK TO THESE HATS--THEY MAKE ONE LOOK LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE." (_Ahem!_)] [Illustration: _OUR LITTLE FRIEND TOM NODDY DETERMINES TO HAVE A DAY'S HUNTING IN A FRESH COUNTRY._ _T. N._ (_loq._). "WELL NOW, OLD FELLOW, WHAT SORT O' COUNTRY IS IT WHERE WE ARE GOING TO-MORROW?" _His Friend._ "OH, BEAUTIFUL!--VERY EASY. BIGGISH BULLFINCHERS WITH A DITCH ON ONE SIDE. TIMBER OF COURSE, SUCH AS POSTS AND RAILS, AND THAT SORT OF THING; AND IF WE GO TO MUDBURY, NOTHING BUT RAZOR-BACKED BANKS AND--WATER!"] [Illustration: _THE SWIMMERS._ _Georgina._ "NOW, CLARA, THAT'S NOT FAIR--YOU KNOW YOU HAVE ONE FOOT ON THE GROUND."] [Illustration: _A MODERN ANTIQUE._] [Illustration: _FRENCH AS IT IS SPOKEN._ _Scene. Paris, a Table d'Hôte.--Old Lady at Breakfast.--The Garçon has been ordered to bring some fruit to Old Lady._ _Garçon._ "VOILÀ, MADAME!--_Old Lady_ (_who, in her Daughter's absence, will let off her French._) "OH! TRES BYANG, TRES BYANG, GARÇON; BONG! MARECEY, MARECEY, MAIS--THESE ARE CURRANTS--BYANG NAMPORT! CET EGAL--ONLY--JE N'AIME PAS SO WELL AS GOOSEBERRIES, YOU KNOW!" [_Instructive rather!_ ] [Illustration: _A GOOD CATCH._ FLY-FISHING. A NICE RIPPLE ON THE WATER.--"_NOW FOR A BIG ONE!_"] [Illustration: _FELLOW FEELING._ _Cabby._ "NOT GOT NO MONEY?--NEVER MIND, SIR,--JUMP IN! I CAN'T STAND SUCH AN OSSEY-LOOKING GENT AS YOU TO GO ABOUT A-WALKING!"] [Illustration: _THE FARM-YARD._ _Country Friend_ (_to London Friend who is dressed within an inch of his life_). "THERE, MY BOY--COME AND SEE THIS LOVELY PIG, AND THEN WE'LL GO AND LOOK AT THE REST OF THE STOCK."] [Illustration: _DELICATE WAY OF PUTTING IT._ _Tailor_ (_measuring_). "TRIFLE WIDER ROUND THE _CHEST_, SIR, THAN YOU WAS."] [Illustration: _TABLE-TURNING EXPERIMENT AT GREENWICH._ "THERE, OLD FELLA! HOPE YOU'RE SATISFIED IT GOES ROUND NOW." "OH YESH! THERE'S NO MISTAKE!"] [Illustration: _A COOL REQUEST._ _Boy._ "I SAY, SIR--HEAVE US UP TO HAVE A LOOK AT THEM PICTURES!"] [Illustration: _FASHION OF THE PERIOD._ THE RAREY ZEBRA PATTERN--A SWEET THING FOR THE SEA-SIDE.] [Illustration: _OFFENDED DIGNITY._ _Small Boy_ (_to Ex-Cook, who has come about a place_). "IS THERE A FOOTMAN KEP? WHY, O' COURSE THERE IS--I'M THE FOOTMAN!"] [Illustration: _A HINT TO THE ENTERPRISING._ _Boy._ "HERE YOU ARE, SIR. BLACK YER BOOTS, AND TAKE YER LIKENESS, FOR THE SMALL CHARGE OF THREEPENCE!"] [Illustration: _THE ROYAL KNICKERBOCKER ARCHERS._