Several ladies have chosen this week for taking walks. As I was popping down Bond Street a few days ago I nearly ran into sweet Lady B., who was dressed in the softest brown, with a dear little robin redbreast perched lovingly in her _toque_, which was a veritable _dernier cri_. There is a beautiful story in connection with the little dickey, as Lady B. believes that it is the same little feathered darling she used to feed with crumbs on her window-sill last winter! It is such a joy to her tender heart to feel that her little pensioner will now never be parted from his benefactress--while the _toque_ lasts. A few minutes later, while I was returning the Countess of A.’s bow, I caught my foot in the _marabout_ of one of our most unconventional and witty American visitors, who is, by the way, the heroine of the following delightful little story. While staying at a country house, not a hundred miles from a certain little white village with red roofs, the house party was taken to a local flower show. At dinner that evening, charming Miss X., who was a member of the party, was asked by her partner if she took an interest in gardening. “I guess I’m only interested in strawberry leaves!” was the witty answer. * * * * * [Illustration: OFFENDED DIGNITY _Small Swell_ (_who has just finished a quadrille_). “H’m, thank goodness, that’s over! Don’t give me your bread and butter misses to dance with. I like your grown women of the world!”--(_N.B._ _The bread and butter miss has asked him how old he was, and when he went back to school._)] * * * * * [Illustration: QUITE ANOTHER THING “You _must_ remember her. I introduced you at my ‘At Home.’” “You introduced me to so _many_ people, how can I remember?” “But she was wearing----” (_Describes the costume minutely._) “Oh, was _that_ she? Of _course_ I remember _her_ perfectly!”] * * * * * [Illustration: THOUGHT TRANSFERENCE _Hostess._ “Good night, General! So kind of me to have asked you.” _Guest._ “Not at all. So kind of me to have come!”] * * * * * BOOKS TO MATCH ALL DRESSES. All lovers of literature will be delighted to hear that Miss Cumberland Smith’s latest work, “Chained by Circumstance,” is to be issued in tooled green leather to match the dainty little belts which are being shown this week by Mr. Peter Jay. This book would look particularly well with a white satin Liberty _robe_, a stole of Indian work, and the hair _coiffured_ in the _mode retroussé_, which is now, we are glad to see, once more with us.