"Oh, BRIGGS, why did you leave Balliol so suddenly?" "Sh!" he answered, looking nervously round him. "_She_ took me away." "And why did you never write to anyone?" "Sh! _She_ forbade me." "Forbade you?" "Yes, yes, indeed. Oh, ROBINSON, you do not know my wife!" I was inwardly thanking my stars that I had not this honour when BRIGGS, overcome with his emotion, suddenly flung up his arms and covered his face with his hands. The action upset the equilibrium of the baby, which rolled off his lap, fell on the floor, and awoke with a scream. With a cry of dismay BRIGGS caught up the bundle, and tossed it violently up and down, addressing it the while in such intelligible terms as these--"And did it wake its darling ducky Cutsababoo, it did! It was a naughty cruel Dada, it was!" It would be hard to say which made the greater noise, BRIGGS or the baby; but BRIGGS had the staying power, and after a fight the baby gave it up. BRIGGS gazed at it as it lay exhausted in his arms, then turning to me, he said, "I think the Cutsababoo has done crying now, ROBINSON. Will you excuse me if I sing him to by-byes?" In olden days BRIGGS had a glorious baritone voice, and to hear him sing the Balliol Boating Song was a musical treat. I therefore readily agreed to stay and listen. "The Duckydoo is very particular," explained BRIGGS. "He will only go to sleep to his own ickle tune, _The New Lullaby_." "Mummy has gone to the city, Cutsaba--Cutsababoo! But Mummy will think of her Pretty, And buy him a little toy too. Daddy will dandle the Darling, And show him his beautiful toy. Hushaby, Pet! Baby, don't fret! Sleepery, Peepery Boy! "Mummy is making the money, Cutsaba--Cutsababoo! To buy a new bonnet for sonny, A jacket for Daddykins too. Daddy will dandle the Darling, And show him his beautiful toy. Hushaby, Pet! Baby, don't fret! Sleepery, Peepery Boy!" BRIGGS had just reached the end of the second verse when his keenly sensitive ear caught the sound of a latchkey turning in the door. A look of terror crossed his face. "It's _she!_ It's _she!_" he cried. "Oh, ROBINSON, if she finds you here! Oh, if you love me, fly!" I needed no second bidding. With a hasty grip of the hand I bade my friend farewell, and this is the last that has been seen of BRIGGS of Balliol. * * * * * [Illustration: THE MODERN MAID OF ATHENS. _John Bull_ (_hesitatingly_). "MAID OF ATHENS, ERE WE 'PART'----" _Maid of Athens_ (_interrupting_). "THINK WHAT YOU OWE TO ATTIC ART?." [ the invitation of H.R.H. the Prince of WALES, a large meeting of these interested in the British School of Art at Athens was held on July 9 in St. James's Palace. The Prince of WALES said: "I sincerely hope we may soon hear that the School has been placed in an assured position for ever."--_Times Report._]] * * * * * CUE FOR CANVASSERS. (_By a Cynic._)