_Und. (to himself)._ To think that they may be discussing my book in the drawing-room at this very moment, while I--I---- (_He chokes._) Ah, it won't bear thinking of! I must--I _will_ get out of this cursed place! I have stood this too long as it is! But I won't go till I have seen this fellow SPURRELL, and made him give me back my things. What's the time?... ten! I can go at last. (_He rises._) Mrs. POMFRET, will you kindly excuse me? I--I find I must go at once. _Mrs. Pomfr._ Well, Mr. UNDERSHELL, Sir, you're the best judge; and, if you really can't stop, this is Mr. ADAMS, who'll take you round to the stables himself, and do anything that's necessary. Won't you, Mr. ADAMS? _Adams._ So you're off to-night, Sir, are you? Well, I'd rather ha' shown you _Deerfoot_ by daylight, myself; but there, I dessay that won't make much difference to _you_, so long as you _do_ see the 'orse? _Und. (to himself)._ So _Deerfoot's_ a _horse_! One of the features of Wyvern, I suppose; they seem very anxious I shouldn't miss it. _I_ don't want to see the beast; but I daresay it won't take many minutes; and, if I don't humour this man, I shan't get a conveyance to go away in! (_Aloud._) No difference whatever--to _me_. I shall be delighted to be shown _Deerfoot_; only I really can't wait _much_ longer; I--I've an appointment elsewhere! _Adams._ Right, Sir; you get your 'at and coat, and come along with me, and you shall see him at once. [UNDERSHELL _takes a hasty farewell of_ Miss PHILLIPSON _and the company generally--none of whom attempts to detain him--and follows his guide_. _As the door closes upon them, he hears a burst of stifled merriment, amidst which_ Miss PHILLIPSON'S _laughter is only too painfully recognisable_. [Illustration: "He suttingly didn't give me the impression of being a Gentleman."] * * * * * A TRUST TO BE TRUSTED. [It is proposed to form a "Trust for the Preservation of Beautiful or Historical Places."] "A thing of beauty is a joy for ever!" Nay KEATS, sweet bard, earnest you were, and clever; But "Things of Beauty" will not long be "joys" If left to jerry-builders, cads, and boys; And 'ARRY'S knife, and the fern-digger's trowel, Used to disfigure and to disembowel Art's masterpieces and dear Nature's charms, Will work on Beauty's world destructive harms. Sacred to silence, that the still monk's sandal Brake only, spots there are the vulgar Vandal And trampling Cockney Goth would quickly mar More than the devastating tread of war. Such to preserve, with all their winning beauties, Is surely Civilisation's first of duties,-- Preserve from ravage of the rash cheap-tripper, Or wanton blade of 'ARRY the cheek-chipper And nose-disfigurer, with his POLL or 'TILDER, Or wreckage of the Speculative Builder. So _Punch_, the beauty-loving, thoughtful, just, Wishes success to the new Beauty Trust! * * * * *