PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. VOL. 93. DECEMBER 31, 1887 ANOTHER "BUTLER;" OR, A THORNE IN HIS SIDE. [Illustration] Taking for granted the improbabilities of Mr. AUTHOR JONES'S plot--which seems to use up again the materials of _Aurora Floyd_, and one or two other novels, including the _Danvers Jewels_--and a certain maladroitness of construction, _Heart of Hearts_ is both interesting and amusing. All the characters are distinctly outlined excepting one, and this one, strange to say, is _James Robins_, the hero of the piece, a part apparently written rather to suit Mr. THOMAS THORNE'S peculiarities, than to exhibit any marked individuality of character. _James Robins_, _Lady Clarissa Fitzralf's_ butler,--who is of course the intimate friend of Mr. and Mrs. MERIVALE'S butler at Toole's Theatre round the corner,--has secretly married his mistress's sister, and her niece is openly to marry his mistress's son. Now, how about the character of _James Robins?_ Is he honest? Hardly so. Is he sly? Certainly. Is he crafty? It cannot be denied. Yet the sympathy of the audience is with him. Why? Well, chiefly because he is played by Mr. THORNE, and secondarily, because he is very fond of his brother's child, whom he has brought up because his brother, having got into trouble and been compelled to "do his time," has delivered her into his care. This nice father returns, comes to see his child, and steals a ruby bracelet, this ruby being the "heart of hearts." Whereupon one _Miss Latimer_, a malicious schemer, fixes the theft on _Lucy Robins_. What more natural, considering the name? The father, _Old Robins_, has stolen the jewel; the daughter, _Lucy Robins_, has been accused of doing so. Quite a robbin's family. Of course exculpation and explanation wind up the play, though I regret to say I was compelled to leave before hearing how Mr. AUTHUR JONES deals with that old reprobate Cock _Robins_, the parent bird, who, in view of the future happiness of _Mary_ and _Ralph_, would be about as presentable a father-in-law to have on the premises as that old "unemployed" reprobate, _Eccles_, in _Caste_. I am sorry he wasn't somehow disposed of, having of course previously confessed his guilt to the bilious detective, _March_, and expired under the assumed name of _Mister Masters_. By the way, AUTHUR JONES is not happy in nomenclature.