_Violet_ (_after a pause_). He needn't use it for drinking from. It would do for a flower-vase, if it had a stand. Anyhow, let's make haste and choose _something_. _Daisy._ I would give him this lovely ink-bottle, only he uses a type-writer. Ah, I have it--a purse! _Violet._ The question is whether JACK has it, not you. _Daisy_ (_enthusiastically_). Yes, a purse it shall be. JACK never has any money--but _that_ is only a detail. Showy, isn't it? _Violet._ Awfully pretty! Made in Germany, too, it says; _that_ makes it so much more romantic. _Daisy_ (_groaning_). Come away! JACK'S a _morbid_ patriot. Won't _look_ at a thing not made in England. I must choose some other day. And we shall be horribly late for lunch. Really, present-choosing isn't as easy as one thinks! _Violet._ Not for JACK, at any rate! [_Exeunt hurriedly, and empty-handed._ *** "CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE."--My Gas Company's bill. *** A "B. AND S." AT THE SAVOY. [Illustration: _Sir Arthur._ "Then _Box----_" _Sir Author._ "And _Cox----_" _Both._ "Are satisfied!" [_Curtain._] A great deal is expected from the collaboration of Sir ARTHUR SULLIVAN and Mr. F. C. BURNAND, more especially when the work is staged at the Savoy, and is brought out under the direction of Mr. D'OYLY CARTE. The brilliant audience that gathered on Wednesday night for the first performance of _The Chieftain_ evidently came full of expectation, and as evidently went away filled with satisfaction. Twenty-seven years ago, when they were boys together, B. and S. (that sounds friendly and refreshing) brought out an early version of the opera which they called _The Contrabandista_. After the rehearsal of the new piece had gone forward for some weeks, ARTHUR SULLIVAN stumbled over this rather difficult word and sprained his ankle. Whereupon F. C. B., with characteristic promptitude and originality, changed the name to _The Chieftain_. That is the call-boy's narrative of events. However it be, since the opera has been entirely re-written, enlarged and beautified, it was natural to bestow upon it a new title. On the first night _The Chieftain_ stormed the passes to public favour, and appears likely to occupy them for some time. Nothing brighter in colour, fuller of life, more musical, more mirthful, has been seen at the Savoy since its palmiest days. Sir ARTHUR and Sir Author are perfectly mated, F. C. B. brimming over with genuine humour, and A. S. pre-eminently displaying his rare gift of expressing humour in musical notes. The cast is a very strong one, which is fortunate, seeing the appetite of the audience is insatiable, and only exceptional strength could meet the demand for encores. Where all excel it is difficult to particularise merit. But Miss FLORENCE ST. JOHN and Mr. COURTICE POUNDS in the French duet, Mr. PASSMORE from first to last (especially in his Bolero dance, one of the funniest things for a long time seen on the operatic stage), Miss EMMIE