_Culch._ (_annoyed_). She must have understood every word we said! Are you in earnest over this? (_PODBURY nods grimly_.) Well, you'll soon get tired of your own society, I warn you. _Podb._ Thanks, we shall see. [_He saunters off with his bag: CULCHARD shrugs his shoulders, and goes in search of the Bayrischer-Hof Porter, to whom he entrusts his luggage tickets, and takes his seat in the omnibus alone._ * * * * * "ANGELS AND MINISTERS OF GRACE!" ["The London Correspondent of the _Manchester Guardian_ hears that certain ungallant Members of Parliament are threatening at the beginning of next Session to make a formal protest against the wholesale admission of ladies to the precincts of the House."] Ungallant! Vastly fine! But when they crowd The terrace seats, elbow us in the lobbies, Chatter and laugh, and care no more about (Elderly) senators than boys or bobbies; Why then, Sir, all M.P.'s of nerve and _nous_ Will say that, though we love the babbling beauties, The swarming of these "Angels in the House," Will simply play the devil with its duties! [Illustration: "NOS ET MUTAMUR IN ILLIS!" (_INTERNATIONAL FELINE AMENITIES._) _Fair French Republican_. "SO YOU 'AVE RETURN FROM PARIS? HOW DID YOU LIKE IT?" _Lady Godiva_. "OH, _PAS DE TOUT_--IT IS SO ALTERED FOR THE WORSE! FOR I CAN REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS IN THE DEAR OLD DAYS OF THE EMPIRE!" _Fair French Republican_. "AH, MILADI, IS IT NOT POSSIBLE ZAT PARIS MAY FIND YOU A LITTLE BIT ALTERED TOO!"] * * * * * STORICULES. IV.--A REVIEWER'S CONFESSION. I am extremely fond of sitting and looking on; but I do not care about taking part in anything. There are some people who cannot even witness a cab accident without wanting to be the horse or the man who is sitting on the horse's head. They walk round the prostrate animal and give advice; and if they are allowed to help in any way, they are quite happy. If such people watch a game of any sort, they always wish they were taking part in it. I once went to a cricket-ground to eat luncheon, and I went with an enthusiast of this kind. We noticed that his attention seemed distracted, that he only replied in monosyllables when we spoke to him, and that there was something on his mind. "I would give," he exclaimed, at last--and it was the only remark that he had volunteered for half-an-hour--"I would give a year of my life for twenty minutes with that bowling." He was evidently deeply affected. "_Why_ don't they take him off?" he moaned. There were tears in his eyes. I do not quite understand that feeling. I can watch absolutely anything, but I never want to do more. I was not made to undertake principal parts--I can witness amateur theatricals without wishing to be the prompter. I review novels, but I do not write them.