"I like _Richard Escott_," says the Baron, laying down the Macmillanitish one-volume novel of that name written by E. H. COOPER. "It is an interesting story, and might be the first of a series similar to the _Rougon Macquart_ family, as, when this tale finishes, there are sufficient _Escotts_ alive to carry on the story of their family through many generations, only, unfortunately, the date of this story cannot be taken further back than, say, about ten years ago, if that. To give the family breathing-time, we should require some stories about the ESCOTTS under Queen ANNE and the GEORGES, and then we could return to the fortunes of the sons and daughters the _Richard Escott_. "With fear and trembling, yet with a sensation of enjoying some secret wicked pleasure," quoth the Baron, confidentially, "I retired with Mr. ASHBY STERRY'S _Naughty Girl_ into my _sanctum_, which, as its name implies, is just the very place to which I ought to retire with a young lady bearing such a character." _A Naughty Girl_ is published in the "Modern Library Series" brought out by Messrs. BLISS, SANDS, AND FOSTER; and how happy would SANDS be--run out, of course--and where would FOSTER be unless foster'd by the other two--without BLISS, who makes quite a little 'eaven below of this Publishing Firm. Blissful must have been Mr. ASHBY STERRY'S state when he wrote so excellent a Dickensian description, as he has done in the earlier part of this book, of Boxing Night at Drury Lane, and when he gave a finishing touch to this story in showing how _Beryl_ and _Jack_ were brought together in spite of a temporary misunderstanding and estrangement. "Bravo Pantalaureate of many a frilling poem! A Happy Christmas to you and your readers!" quoth the warm-hearted and appreciative BARON DE BOOK-WORMS. * * * * * [Illustration: An "Up to Date" Young Man.] * * * * * "'TWAS IN TRAFALGAR"'S THEATRE.