And _Noëmi_, if a trifle less Gouldish than Weymanish, is a tale of stirring times, when to plunder, hack, stab, and string up a few unfriendly fellow-creatures, who would have done the same by you if the turn of luck had been theirs, came in the day's work; while to roast an offender whole "all alive O," just for once and away, was, so to speak, "quite a little 'oliday," as a special and exceptional treat. And all these jocular barbarities were occasioned, not by any religious fervour, or by intolerant persecuting zeal, excusing itself on the score of anxiety for future spiritual welfare of victim, but simply out of pure cussedness, and for the humour of the thing, much as, now-a-days, the bowie-knife and the cord are used "down West." Personally, the Baron gives not full credit to all these tales of mediæval cruelty, but the "scenes and properties" serve an excellent artistic purpose, and so he loves them as he loves such romances as those of _She who must be obeyed_, and _Treasure Island_. Therefore here's to the lass _Noëmi_, and, as she herself would of course say, in response to the toast, "You'll like me the more you _Know-o'-me_." [Illustration] Another capital story by FRANK BARRETT, entitled _A Set of Rogues_, is strongly recommended by the faculty; the faculty in question being that of deciding upon what sort of book is certain to suit the tastes of the majority of romance-readers, who, aweary of the plodding every-day business in this "so-called nineteenth century," like to get away from it occasionally and live, just for a change, in the seventeenth. Stirring tale this of _A Set of Rogues_, without a dull chapter in it: and just enough human sentiment in it to soften down the roguery. In fact, so skilfully is the tale told that the reader will find himself siding with "their knavish tricks"; for the hearts of these rogues are in the right place, though their bodies very seldom were, and their heads never, in the noose. But "no noose is good noose," and so let the honest reader procure the book from INNES & CO. of Bedford Street; he will come to love the scoundrels, and will ask, with the Baron, "What on earth became of that captivating _Don Sanchez?_" and another query, "Was the villainous old Steward really killed?" Perhaps the author is reserving the Don and the Steward for another romance. If so, "What will he do with 'em?" asks the INTERESTED BARON DE B.-W. * * * * * [Illustration: THE LAST SALUTE! _Tommy Atkins_ (_to Commander-in-Chief H.R.H. The Dook of C-mbr-dge_) "SORRY TO LOSE YOU, SIR! YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A VERY GOOD FRIEND TO US!" "In this, his first Army Order, Lord WOLSELEY wishes, in the name of the Army, to assure His Royal Highness of the affectionate regard of all who have served under him during his long period of office."--_London Gazette_, November 1, 1895.] * * * * * [Illustration: HOPE DEFERRED.