The influence of RIDER HAGGARD is over the whole book, but in two instances the author has been unable to resist close imitation, nay, almost quotation of a well-known Haggardism, and so he writes at p. 130:-- "Just then a very wonderful and awful thing happened." And at p. 197:-- "When suddenly, and without an instant's warning, a most awful thing happened." Both variations on a Haggardism, and both equally spoilt in the process of transferring and adapting. One sentence, the utterance of a Zulu chief, is well worth quoting, and it is this:-- "But empty hands are evil things wherewith to face a well-armed spook." "The well-armed spook" is a joy for ever. _"A great black man fleeted past the rocks."_ "Hum!" quoth the Baron, "fleeted" is a new word to me. Not that I object to its invention and use on that account; in sound and appearance it expresses no more than "sped," or, if pursuit is to be implied, "fled." Here is something that this novelist having written may well lay to heart, _"The man was as white-skinned as themselves, and judging from the purity of his English, must have been at one time a British subject."_ "Now," quoth the Baron, meditatively, "if purity of English, with or without a white skin, is the unmistakable mark of a 'British subject,' then it follows that Mr. LAWRENCE FLETCHER is of some nationality other than British. At least, such is the logical conclusion arrived at by his humble but critical servant, "THE BARON DE B. W. 'B. B.' (_British Born._)" * * * * * [Illustration: A VOCATION. _The Vicar._ "OH--_THAT'S_ YOUR BOY, SMITHERS? AND WHAT'S HE GOING TO BE? A SHOEMAKER, LIKE YOURSELF?" _Smithers._ "OH NO, SIR. HE'S UNCOMMON FOND OF ANIMALS, YOU SEE--SO WE'RE THINKING OF MAKING HIM A BUTCHER!"] * * * * * A NEW TURN.--He was an eloquent, an earnest lover, but she saw through him. When he had sworn to be true, which oath of his she didn't trust for a minute, and had implored her to do likewise, she only murmured to herself, "_Had I a heart for falsehood framed_----" Whereupon he vowed that such a thing was impossible; but, supposing her to possess such a heart, what would she do with it, considering it as a frame? Then she replied, softly, "I should put your portrait in it." * * * * * "All's Well that Ends Well." YOUNG ABBAS thought to catch Lord CROMER napping. Perhaps he'll not again try weasel-trapping. E'en HOMER sometimes nods. 'Tis true--of HOMER; But ABBAS thinks 'tis not--as yet--of CROMER! * * * * * MR. LABOUCHERE is, AUTOLYCUS hears, much interested in Mr. YATES'S promotion to Magisterial honours. "I shall keep my eye on EDMUND," HENRY says. "If only I get a chance of putting him on my weekly Pillory in _Truth_, I do not deny it would give me keen satisfaction." * * * * *