_Hall_ (_pale, but determined_). If that song goes, I go too. Oh, yes, SPINKS, it's all very well for you to be so blessed polite to BOLDERO, but you didn't seem to think much of his acting (_observes_ SPUFFIL _smiling_) no, nor of SPUFFIL'S either, when you spoke to me yesterday: and as for GUSHBY, why we all know what GUSHBY is. [_All join in the fight, which continues for ten minutes._ _Boldero_ (_looking at his watch_). Good heavens! we shall miss our train, and I've promised to look in on IRVING to-night. He'd never forgive me if I didn't turn up. [_Smiles of quiet intelligence appear on the faces of the other Amateurs, accompanied with a few winks, which like "laughter in Court," are "immediately suppressed." Exeunt omnes, severally, each pleased with himself, and more or less disgusted with everybody else._ _Miss Amelia_ (_to_ KITTY). What a funny lot! Are they like that every year? _Miss Kitty._ Yes, always. But (_confidentially_) they do come out strong for a "ben." [_They retire to their lodgings for a little quiet tea and a rest._ * * * * * A MID-WINTER'S NIGHT'S DREAM. [Illustration] Surely AUGUSTUS DRURIOLANUS has triumphed and beaten the record! For the last nine years it has been the cry, "There never was so good a Pantomime as _this_ one," and now again the shout is repeated. _Jack and the Beanstalk_ is the eleventh of the series, and the best. "How it is done?" only AUGUSTUS can answer. The Annual (no longer, alas! written by the gentle and genial E. L. B.) has an excellent book. It contains something of all sorts. Now we have SHAKSPEARE'S fairy-land with _Oberon_, _Titania_, and _Puck_, then HARRY NICHOLL'S Royal Palace with Mr. HERBERT CAMPBELL and Miss HARRIET VERNON, then Madame KATTI LANNER'S Market Place, with a number of the most promising of her pupils (of all ages too, from the tiny child to the "ceased-growing-a-long-while-ago") then Mrs. SIMPSON'S Back Garden, with Mr. GEORGE CONQUEST junior as a giant, Mr. DAN LENO as a widow, and the Brothers GRIFFITHS as the Cow Company Limited, and lastly, controlling the whole, we have Mr. AUGUSTUS HARRIS who is seen at his very best when we reach the Giant's Library and the realms of Olympus.