_Ghost_ (_as before_). Ring down! The time is up! (_Quick Curtain_) * * * * * [Illustration: A GENTLE EGOTIST. _The Brilliant Jones_ (_who likes an appreciative audience--to his Hostess_). "OH, THERE!--IT'S NO USE--I GIVE IT UP! CONVERSATION'S IMPOSSIBLE, WHEN PEOPLE _WILL_ TALK!"] * * * * * "INNINGS DECLARED CLOSED." SCENE--_Grounds of the St. Stephen's C.C. SALISBURY (Captain) and BALFOUR (Champion Bat) at Wickets. The latter has just despatched the ball to the boundary for "another four," eliciting "applause all round the ring," as the (Cricket) saying is._ _Captain_. Well hit, my dear ARTHUR! _Champion Bat_ (_modestly_). Ah! bit of a fluke. _Captain_. Come, come! Cricket swagger may merit rebuke, But take your fair _kudos_; don't run yourself down. _Wicket-Keeper_ (_aside_). Bah! that's his old trick. At the ball he will frown, And fumble the bat as though funk, or don't care, Filled his soul; but when slogging's the game he's all there. Mere posing, not playing the game,--yet he _scores_! I wonder how WILL likes the ring's frantic roars At their flashy young favourite? _Bowler_ (_aside_). Humph! he lays on! I did hope, with that ball, that his wicket was gone. 'Twas a curly one, one of my regular old sort. Good batting _and_ bowling, that's true Cricket sport, As CLARKE, Grand Old Trundler, declared was the case When he bowled and PILCH batted. _Champion Bat_ (_aside_). Just twig HARCOURT's face! Thought he'd had me ere now. Can't you hear his "How's _that_?"-- If I gave him a chance? _Captain_. He's a fine slogging bat, But behind the sticks--humph! Well, let's see, lad, your score Wants but eight of the "century." Ninety-two more Towards your "average," ARTHUR! The Cricketer's Bard Will be rhyming your doings! _Champion Bat_. An awful "reward"! But shall we play on? _Captain_ (_thoughtfully_). Well, now, what do you think? From fighting it out to the end I don't shrink, But time's running short; _we_ stand well for a win: They _say_ that their eager desire's to go in. Perhaps if they got their desire they'd be posed. Suppose we declare that our innings is closed? [_Left considering it._ * * * * * "PROBABLE STARTERS." The Gentleman who sits on a pin with its business-end uppermost. The Follower "not Allowed," on Missus making a quite unexpected appearance in the Kitchen. Clerk, who having written to say that he is unable to attend to business as he is laid up with symptoms of influenza, comes face to face with the Senior Partner on the river at Bolton Lock. LOTHARIO on his knees to his dearest friend's Wife. Enter Husband. * * * * *