ents of Old Nick's Sack, which that 'stupid old snuff-colour'd son
of a gun,' Saint Medard 'cut into slits on the Red Sea shore' would be
_nothing_ to 'em!"

"Nothink at all, Sir; nothink, wotsomedever!"

"No matter--a time will come, Boy! In Mr. WILLIAM MELMOTH WALTERS's
speech I see the dawn of it.

"'The Profession, it is true, does not receive in any great measure
those official dignities and rewards which the President claims on
its behalf, nor are we quite confident that, if it did, the fact would
increase the confidence or the respect of its clients.'

"Well, the _Times_ may not be 'quite confident.' _I_ am! And so would
the clients be, I'm sure. Remove that Blue Bag, Boy! Wonder what _Mr.
Pickwick's_ opinion of Mr. WALTERS's speech would have been, and that
of the _Wellers_, father and son! [_Sings._

"I'll place it in the hand of my Solicitors;
I'll have this thing put right.
We _may_ make money,
But--isn't it funny!--
Few 'dignities' Solicitors delight!"

[_Left considering it._

* * * * *

FROM DARKEST AFRICA.

Mrs. SHELDON is back from her travels abroad.
Were she only a man, we should hail her as manly!
As it is, there are some who, in wishing to laud,
Are accustomed to call her the feminine STANLEY.
But now this adventurous, much-daring she
Through such perils has gone, and so gallantly held on,
In time that's to come Mr. STANLEY may be
Merely known to us all as the male Mrs. SHELDON!

* * * * *

MOTTO FOR THE OPPONENTS OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.--No noose is good news!
(But what will grim Lord GRIMTHORPE say?)

* * * * *

The Cheapest Insurance Office must be the _Fee-nix_.

* * * * *

STORICULES.

II.--THE BACK-VIEW.

The boy had gone out to get change.

[Illustration]

I was waiting in the studio, listening to the photographer. He was in
quite a small way of business, and no one would have expected him to
have any change for anything. I was sitting on a rustic stile, with a
Greek temple and some wilted Spiraeas in the background. He was in the
dark room, busy, splashing liquids about, and reminiscent. I still
believe that he thought the time of waiting would seem shorter
to me if he talked. The whole place seemed to suggest financial
difficulties, and smelt of chemicals.

"You remember the Punyer case?