d and mottled with tinned salmon and dried
apricot. Rich golden and banking-account stamina, foliage deep navy blue
with brass buttons and a superb fragrance of western ocean. Its marvellous
try-try-try-again floriferousness in all weathers is the admiration of all
beholders. Price no object.

* * * * *

From a weather forecast:--

"General Outlook.--It appears probable that further expressions will
arrive from the westward or north-westward before long, and that after
a temporary improvement the weather will again become unsettled; with
much cloud and occasional rain."--_Evening Paper._

In which event further expressions (of a sultry character) may be expected
from all round the compass.

* * * * *

"COME UNTO THESE YELLOW SANDS."

[Illustration: "COME UNTO THESE YELLOW SANDS AND THEN--]

[Illustration: --TAKE HANDS."--[_The Tempest_, Act I., Sc. 2. ]

* * * * *

QUEEN'S COUNSEL.

The Fairy Queen shook her head in answer to my question. "No," she said, "I
have no favourite flower."

She had dropped in after dinner, as was her occasional habit, and at the
moment sat perched on a big red carnation which stood in a flower-glass on
the top of my desk.

"You see," she continued, floating across to where I was sitting and
lowering her voice confidentially, for there were a good many flowers
about--"you see it would never do. Just think of the trouble it would
cause. Imagine the state of mind of the lilies if I were to show a
preference for roses. There's always been a little jealousy there, and
they're all frightfully touchy. The artistic temperament, you know. Why, I
daren't even sleep in the same flower two nights running."

"Yes, I see," I said. "It must be very awkward."

I lapsed into silence; I had had a worrying day and was feeling tired and a
little depressed. The Queen fluttered about the room, pausing a moment on
the mantel-shelf for a word or two with her old friend the Dresden china
shepherdess. Then she came back to the desk and performed a brief _pas
seul_ on the shining smooth cover of my pass-book. My mind flew instantly
to my slender bank-balance and certain recent foolishnesses.

"Talking of favourites," I said--"talking of favourites, do you take any
interest in racing?"

Instantly the Queen subsided on to my rubber stamp damper, which was
fortunately dry.

"Oh, yes," she rep