"On the contrary," I said, "I have made a dignified yet subtle protest. You wouldn't move in the matter so I had to do something. I flatter myself that a sense of her past silliness will rush over Jane like a flood when she comes in here to-morrow morning." "If Jane's flooded at all," said Celia, "it will be with the idea that the master's mad. But I don't think she'll notice it particularly." Next morning everything was right side up again--except the cup. "It's no good," I told Celia; "she is obviously determined. Perhaps it means more than we think to her to have that cup upside-down. Its beauty, the memories it brings back, the symbolism of it, these things touch some hidden spring ... Still I _am_ master in my own house." And I turned the cup round again.... Another month passed and I could bear it no longer. Yesterday I made up my mind. I would speak to Jane myself. I turned my First Prize the right way up, and then looked for Celia. "Celia," I said firmly, "where is Jane?" "She's gone out," said Celia softly. "Her--her man goes off to-day." *** An hour later, with bands playing and people cheering, they wheeled out of barracks, brown and businesslike. Jane was in the front somewhere, waving her handkerchief--not such a silly Jane, after all. And at the back, very proud for her, Celia and I stood silent, with a something in the throat that had come there suddenly.... And this morning the cup was upside-down again. Well, well, if she likes it that way, that way let it be. But take warning, O Jane! When your man--here's luck to him!--comes back, then I shall assert myself once more. My cup, "Long Jump, 1739. First Prize," shall stand the right way up; either that or you leave my service. I am determined about this.... Meanwhile we can share the daily paper. A. A. M. * * * * * "Dear _Mr. Punch_,--You may remember that QUEEN VICTORIA recorded in her _Journal in the Highlands_ that 'Vicky sat down on a wasps' nest.' 'VICKY,' of course, was destined later to be the mother of WILHELM II. Can we not see in the present situation rather a remarkable example of heredity?--Yours, etc., MEDICO." * * * * * From a _Daily Chronicle_ special correspondent-- "A little meat and plenty of vegetables take one a long way--lettuce, soup, eggs, en surprise, peas, dessert, voila--even the very poor can afford such a dinner in Brussels." A seven-course dinner is certainly more than we can afford in England. * * * * * Illustration: "IT'S AN ILL WIND ..." _Old Cock Grouse._ "I SEE THEY'VE ALL GONE SHOOTING EAGLES." * * * * * THE PRIVATE VIEW. I take train home every evening from one of our best stations. Crowned heads fairly tumble over one another there in their anxiety to get a first glimpse of London. Personages are matters of daily arrival.