“‘Yes,’ he continued, with the smile that makes him so familiar, ‘these are my books: trifles,--but my own. Here’ (taking down a volume), ‘is _What would Cromwell have done?_--a proposal for reforming Oxford. Then here, in a binding with purple flowers, is my _Time and Purpose_,--a devotional book which has sold largely. The rest of the shelf is what I call my ‘casual’ work. It was mainly done for that great modern publisher,--Matthew Straight, who knows so well how to combine the old Spirit with Modern exigencies. You know his beautiful sign of the Boiling Pot in Plummer’s Court? It was painted for him by one of his young artists. You have doubtless seen his name in the lists of guests at country houses; I often meet him when I go to visit my friends, and we plan a book together. “‘Thus my _Boys of Great Britain_--an historical work, was conceived over the excellent port of Baron Gusmann at Westburton Abbey. Then there is the expansion of this book, _English Boyhood_, in three volumes, of which only two have appeared--_Anglo-Saxon Boyhood_ and _Mediæval Boyhood in England_. It is very laborious. “‘No,’ he resumed, with nervous rapidity, ‘I have not confined myself to these. There is “_What is Will?_” “_Mehitopel the Jewess of Prague_” (a social novel); “_The Upper House of Convocation before History_;” “_Elements of the Leibnitzian Monodology for Schools_” (which is the third volume in the High School Series); “_Physiology of the Elephant_” and its little abbreviated form for the use of children, “_How Jumbo is made Inside_,” dedicated, by the way, to that dear little fairy, Lady Constantia de la Pole: such a charming child, and destined, I am sure, to be a good and beautiful woman. She is three years old, and shooting up like a graceful young lily.’ “‘I fear I am detaining you,’ I said, as the good man, whose eyes had filled with tears during the last remark (he is a great lover of children) pulled out a gold watch and consulted its tell-tale dial. ‘Not at all!,’ he replied with finished courtesy, ‘but I always make a point of going in to High Tea and seeing my wife and family well under weigh before I go off to Hall. Surely that must be the gong, and there (as the pleasant sound of children’s high voices filled the house) come what I call my young barbarians.’ “He accompanied me to the door with true old-world politeness and shook me beautifully by the hand. ‘Good-bye,’ he said, ‘Good-bye and God-speed. You may make what use you like of this, that I believe the task of the journalist to be among the noblest in our broad land. The Press has a great mission, a great mission.’ “With these words still ringing in my ears I gathered up my skirts to cross the muddy roadway and stepped into the tram.” Women’s Printing Society, Ltd., 66, Whitcomb St. W.C. FOOTNOTES. [1] But do not think I shall explain To any great extent. Believe me, I partly write to give you pain, And if you do not like me, leave me. [2]