mind running against a casual
rattlesnake. Tyrrell is the sort of man who is quite likely to produce
something from his cap and say: "By-the-bye, this is a promising
youngster--death adder, you know. And here," taking something else from
his coat or vest pocket, "is a very fine specimen of the spotted
coffin-filler, rather curious. It isn't _very_ poisonous--kills in an
hour or so. Now, this," dragging another from somewhere under his coat,
"_is_ rather poisonous. Deadly grave-worm--kills in three seconds.
Lively little chap, isn't he? Feel his head." Whereat you would probably
move on.

[Illustration]

_Types of English Beauty._

FROM PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALEX. BASSANO, 25, OLD BOND STREET, W.

[Illustration: Lady CHARLES BERESFORD

Miss ARCHER

Miss BRANSON.]

[Illustration: Miss Flo Beresford.

Miss Nellie Simmons.

Miss Ripley]

[Illustration: Miss LLOYD.

Mrs. BRATE.

Miss DECIMA MOORE]

THE NANKEEN JACKET

(FROM THE FRENCH OF GUSTAVE GUESVILLER.)

"The young are eager for martyrdom."

A STORY FOR CHILDREN.

My friends make fun of my weakness for the colour of _yellow_.

I confess that I adore it, notwithstanding that I have good reason to
detest it. Truly, human nature is a bundle of contradictions!

I love yellow because of a certain episode in my life which occurred
when I was but eight years of age. I love nankeen above all on account
of a jacket of that material, which played in that episode an important
part.

Ah! that jacket of nankeen!

How came it about that I was smitten with the insane desire of
possessing such a thing? The cause is not far to seek. It was _Love_!

Love in a child of eight? Why not? You will see presently that I speak
without any exaggeration.

At that now distant time we resided at Auxerre.

I knew how to read, write, and count. For the further progress of my
education I was sent to a small day-school, kept by two maiden
ladies--humble, gentle souls, who in affectionate care for their pupils
satisfied in some degree their instinct of maternal tenderness.

Poor Demoiselles Dulorre!

Our school, which had been placed under the pious patronage of Saint
Elisabeth, was a mixed one. That is to say, up to the age of ten years,
boys and girls worked and played together. In spite of occasional
quarrels, the system, on the whole, worked very well.

I had not been eight days at Saint Elisabeth's before I fell in love. Do
not laugh! I loved with all th