ity that might naturally be expected_;" _i.e._, "With none worth
mentioning."

"_I rise to order_;" _i.e._, "To raise _dis_order."

EPISTOLATORY.

"_Let me be the first, dear, to congratulate you on your well-merited
good fortune_;" _i.e._, "She has the deuce's own luck, and doesn't
deserve it."

"_Thank you so much for your beautiful present, which I shall value for
its own sake as well as for the giver's_;" _i.e._, "Wouldn't give
twopence for the two of 'em."

"_So good of you to send me your new book. I shall lose no time in
reading it_;" _i.e._, "No; not a single second."

AT A DANCE.

"_So you prefer to stand out of this dance, dear?_" _i.e._, "Trust her
for being a _willing_ 'Wallflower.'"

"_Shall we sit this out on the stairs?_" _i.e._, "I don't want to dance,
and I _do_ want to spoon."

A LITTLE MUSIC.

"_Well, dear, the only song I can remember, without music, is
'Gasping'--but I'll try that, if you like_;" _i.e._, "_Her_ great song,
which she has been grinding up to sing to--or rather _at_--young
FITZ-FLOSS. _Won't_ she be wild?"

"_Well, your Beethoven bits are lovely, dear, we know; but suppose you
give us something lighter, for once_;" _i.e._, "BEETHOVEN, indeed!
BESSIE BELLWOOD is more _her_ style."

CHANNEL PASSAGE.

"_Well, it may be a bit lively when we get out_;" _i.e._, "You won't
know whether you are on your head or your heels in ten minutes."

CURIOMANIA.

"_I've never seen such a collection of curios in my life!_" _i.e._,
"Hope I never may again!"

"_I'm no great judge of such things, but I should say this specimen is
unique_;" _i.e._, "It is to be _hoped_ so!"

"Ex-_qui-site_!!!" _i.e._, "Rubbish!"

RAILROAD AMENITIES.

"_Awfully noisy carriages on this line_;" _i.e._, "Thank goodness! The
clatter has tired even _his_ stentor throat."

"_Good-bye! So sorry we don't travel farther together_;" _i.e._,
"Hooray! Now for feet up and forty winks!"

PREPARING FOR PRIVATE THEATRICALS.

"_I'm sure you will be a great acquisition to my little company_;"
_i.e._, "Awful stick, but a _pis aller_ I'm afraid."

"_Now if there's_ anything _you notice not_ quite _the thing_, pray
_mention it_. I'm _not above taking a hint_;" _i.e._, "Nor _you_ up to
giving one--of any value."

"_Oh, no doubt you're right, though it's not the way_ CHARLES MATHEWS
_did it_;" _i.e._, "That's a nasty one for you, Mr. MEDDLER."

"_Ah, yes, I was a little off colour, perhaps; but I shall be all right