success of the evening was Professor BUTCHER's speech. His audience
were delighted at being thus "butchered to make" an artistic
"holiday." Prince ARTHUR BALFOUR expressed his regret that "the House
of Commons did not possess a Hanging Committee." Hasn't it? Don't we
now and again hear of a Member being "suspended" for some considerable
time? On such occasions, the whole House is a Hanging Committee. There
was one notable omission, and yet for days the air had been charged
with the all-absorbing topic. "Odd!" murmured a noble Duke to himself,
as, meditating many things, he stood by the much-sounding soda-water,
"Odd! a lot of speeches; and yet,--_not a word about Orme!_"

* * * * *

[Illustration: RECKONING WITHOUT THEIR HOST.

FIRST ANARCHIST. "ENFIN, MON AMI!--VE SHALL NOT BE INTERRUPT IN ZIS
FREE ENGLAND!"

BULL A1 (_sotto voce_). "DON'T BE TOO SURE, MOSSOO! YOU'LL FIND NO
_EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES_ HERE!!"]

* * * * *

THE YOUNG GIRL'S COMPANION.

BY MRS. PAYLEY.

III.--THE CHOICE OF A POSE.

[Illustration: {Young girl, posing.}]