darling;
The cause (should pride the cause withhold,
She bodes and I deserve a scrimmage,)
The cause is this--she calls, I'm told,
The little brute my "_Living image!_"

* * * * *

LADY GAY'S SELECTIONS.

DEAR MR. PUNCH,--My dear friend, Lady HARRIET ENTOUCAS, said to me,
the other day at Kempton, when I told her to have a sovereign on
_Conifer_:--"My dear Lady GAY, your tips are so marvellous that I
really wonder you don't write to the papers!" Being struck with the
idea, my thoughts naturally flew to you--not only as the most gallant
Editor of my acquaintance, but also as probably the only one hitherto
unrepresented with a regular Turf Correspondent.

It is, therefore, with true feminine confidence that I place my
services at your disposal, and, my information being of the most
unreliable description (derived invariably from the owners), I feel
sure that those of your readers who follow my tips will have no cause
to regret their temerity, as, being like all women, nothing if not
original, I intend to tip, not the probable _winner_, but the probable
_last_ horse in important races!

As I invariably attend all the fashionable meetings and most of
the unfashionable (incognito of course the latter), it can be left
to _me_ to decide which horse was last--thus reducing the matter
to a _certainty_--distinctly an object to be gained in making a
bet--whatever _men_ may say to the contrary.

An ancestor of mine (the poet of the name)--having transmitted to me a
spark of his genius--I propose to give my selections in verse--select
verse in fact, and will now in concluding my letter, give my tip for
the probable last horse in the Derby--(which, by the way, happens in
this case to be a mare--I repeat--I am nothing if not original!)--and,
before doing so, I should like to express my sympathy with the Duke
of WESTMINSTER and JOHN PORTER, who have indeed had an Orme-ful of
trouble with the unfortunate erstwhile Derby Favourite, which would
undoubtedly have been my selection had he not been scratched! Yours
devotedly,

LADY GAY.

"THE TIP."

The Baron boldly said, "Je vais
Renvoyer cette depeche:
'A Monsieur FRY of London Town.
Un livre sur _La Fleche_.'"

* * * * *

HYDE PARK CORNER.

(MAY, 1892.)

My hansom here completely stuck;
No chance to catch my train, worse luck!
I sit and wonder:
Why should the r