lute._

_King._ Now will I drink to HAMLET after the first bout. OSRIC, be
ready to give him a cup when he is tired! Mind me well. (_Aside._) The
cup of which HAMLET shall drink contains poison. Ha! ha! ha! A time
will come! I triumph!

[_HAMLET and LAERTES fence and drop their foils._

_Osric._--Let me return them, good Sirs!

[_He gives the weapons in such a fashion that they are
exchanged._

_King._ Now will I drink to HAMLET. Give him the other cup.

_Ham._ Nay, your pardon. Sire. I am fat and scant of breath, but I
will crush a cup with thee, later!

_Queen._ Give me the cup. I will drink to thee, HAMLET! [_Drinks._

_Ghost_ (_as before_). I hear the well-remembered voice of thy mother,
boy! That makes six. The limit's reached!

_Ham._ (_aside_). Rest, perturbed spirit! (_Aloud._) And now, good
LAERTES, I am at thy service.

[_They fight. HAMLET is wounded._

_Osric._ A hit, a hit, a palpable hit!

_Ham._ (_annoyed_). I am hurt, and by thee!

[_Fights fiercely and wounds_ LAERTES.

_Queen._ Oh! I am poisoned! [_Dies._

_Ham._ What, treachery! Ah, thou brute!

[_Rushes up and kills King with his foil._

_Laertes._ I am dying! Forgive me, HAMLET. It was the doing of the
King. [_Dies._

_Ghost_ (_as before_). Twenty and nine minutes have expired! The time
is all but up!

_Ham._ (_aside, with difficulty_). Rest, perturbed spirit! Farewell,
farewell, a long farewell to all my--

_Ghost_ (_as before_). Ring down! The time is up!

(_Quick Curtain_)

* * * * *

[Illustration: A GENTLE EGOTIST.

_The Brilliant Jones_ (_who likes an appreciative audience--to his
Hostess_). "OH, THERE!--IT'S NO USE--I GIVE IT UP! CONVERSATION'S
IMPOSSIBLE, WHEN PEOPLE _WILL_ TALK!"]

* * * * *

"INNINGS DECLARED CLOSED."

SCENE--_Grounds of the St. Stephen's C.C. SALISBURY
(Captain) and BALFOUR (Champion Bat) at Wickets. The latter
has just despatched the ball to the boundary for "another
four," eliciting "applause all round the ring," as the
(Cricket) saying is._

_Captain_. Well hit, my dear ARTHUR!

_Champion Bat_ (_modestly_). Ah! bit of a fluke.

_Captain_. Come, come! Cricket swagger may merit rebuke,
But take your fair _kudos_; don't run yourself down.

_Wicket-Keeper_ (_aside_). Bah! that's his old trick. At the ball he
will frown,
And fumble the bat as though