She staggered bravely along, until at last they took away the yards of satin she carried round her arm, and spread it out behind.  Then her name was uttered, or, rather, mispronounced.  She sank on her knees; and, on regaining her feet, was hustled away, to follow a number of fellow-victims who had been treated with like indignity.

Once more there was the bitter cold.  This time the draughts were met in that hall, and endured, until the conveyance arrived to move us on—­she to stand for a couple of hours amidst gossiping friends, and I to go to bed.

But the seeds of death were sown!  She never recovered the shock, and an addition to the inscriptions above the family-vault tells of her early decease!

And who was this poor girl?  A homeless one, wandering the streets of London? or a political prisoner, on her way to Siberia?  Neither!  She was merely a debutante, attending her first (and last) Spring Drawing-room at Buckingham Palace!

* * * * *

NOTE (by Our Own Noodle).—­Father Buonaparte, at the Olympic, judging from the account of it in the Times, seems to consist of “a part” for our WILSON BARRETT, the remainder being skeletonish, or “boney.”

* * * * *

[Illustration:  “MATTHEWS AT HOME.” (NEW VERSION OF AN OLD ENTERTAINMENT.)]

* * * * *

RAIKES REX!

Somebody once said that ultimately the Solar System would probably become a branch of the General Post Office.  The present Postmaster-General is obviously of opinion that that state of things has already come about.

  To rule a realm as limitless as space,
    With the great G.P.O. as Central Sun,
  RAIKES is the man.  Of Great Panjandrum race,
    He’s Autocrat and Oracle in one. 
  The Universe indeed were no great shakes
  Without RAIKES Rex for Ruler. Vivat RAIKES!!!

* * * * *

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

EXTRACTED FROM THE DIARY OF TOBY, M.P.

House of Commons, Monday, March 16.—­House of Commons really looked to-night as if it meant fighting.  No lack of matter for quarrel.  Even before public business was reached, Orders bristled with Motions raising controversial points.  Lord CHUNNEL-TANNEL, that man of peace, was to the fore; his Bill, extending Manchester.  Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway into London via Lord’s Cricket Ground, down for Second Reading.  That redoubtable Parliamentary Archer BAUMANN also on alert.  Has taken under his personal charge the social and material welfare of Metropolis; at one time HARRY LAWSON, on other side of House, disputed supremacy of position with him.  But, as SARK says, BAUMANN has immense advantage of making Liberal speeches from Conservative side.