tisfactory position!" The
Lady herself had taken the until then vacant place!

Shortly afterwards I met Viscount VERMILION walking in an opposite
direction to the path I myself was pursuing. "My Lord," I murmured,
removing my hat, "I was quite prepared to step into the gutter." "It
was unnecessary," returned his Lordship, graciously, "for as the path
was wide, there was room enough for both of us to pass on the same
pavement!"

On a very wet evening I saw My Lord TOMNODDICOMB coming from a shop
in Piccadilly. Noticing that his Lordship had no defence against the
weather, I ventured to offer the Peer my _parapluie_.

[Illustration]

"Please let me get into my carriage," observed his Lordship. Then
discovering, from my bowing attitude, that I meant no insolence by my
suggestion, he added,--"And as for your umbrella--surely on this rainy
night you can make use of it yourself?"

Yet again. The Marchioness of LOAMSHIRE was on the point of crossing a
puddle.

Naturally I divested myself of my greatcoat, and threw it as a bridge
across her Ladyship's dirty walk.

The Marchioness smiled, but her Ladyship has never forgotten the
circumstance, and I have the coat still by me.

And yet some people declare that the wives of Members of the House of
Lords are wanting in consideration!

Believe me, dear _Mr. Punch_,

Yours enthusiastically, S. NOB.

_The Cringeries, Low Booington_.

* * * * *

NOTICE--No. XXV. of "Travelling Companions" next week.

* * * * *

[Illustration: FANCY PORTRAIT.

SENOR DRUMMONDO WOLFFEZ, REPRESENTING THE JOHN BULLFIGHTER AT MADRID.

_"TOREADOR CONTENTO!"_]

* * * * *

THE JUDGES IN COUNCIL.

["All the judicial wisdom of the Supreme Court has met in
solemn and secret conclave, heralded by letters from the heads
of the Bench, admitting serious evils in the working of the
High Court of Justice; a full working day was appropriated for
the occasion; the learned Judges met at 11 A.M. (nominally)
and rose promptly for luncheon, and for the day, at 1.30
P.M. Two-and-a-half hours' work, during which each of the
twenty-eight judicial personages no doubt devoted all his
faculties and experience to the discovery, discussion, and
removal of the admittedly numerous defects in the working of
the Judicature Acts! Two-and-a-half hours, which might have
been