_Mrs. R._ (_meekly_). To--to smash the d----d thing with.

[_The marriage peal ceases abruptly, as Mrs. MANDOLINE, comparatively
reassured, discreetly leaves the couple to come to a better
understanding without further assistance._

* * * * *

OUR BOOKING OFFICE.

_The Gentlewoman_, No. 1, has appeared. It gives, or rather sells, an
overwhelming lot for the money, which is sixpence. Sixpenn'orth of
all sorts. Plenty of readable information. Illustrations not the best
feature in it. Crowds of advertisements. The _menus_, if carefully
sustained, may prove very useful to those who "dinna ken." As to the
type of _The Gentlewoman_, well, the first picture is of Her Imperial
Majesty the QUEEN, and with this type of the Gentlewoman we shall all
be satisfied, _dicit_ BARONIUS DE BOOK-WORMS.

[Illustration]

"What a sight o' Books!" cries the Baron, remembering the clever
Parrot who uttered a similar exclamation at a Parrot Competition.
First, here is _Blossom Land and Fallen Leaves_, by CLEMENT SCOTT,
published by HUTCHINSON & CO., which is an interesting and useful book
to those who are able to take a holiday in Cromer, and marvel at the
sunset, and notice how "in the far distance a couple of lovers advance
towards the fading light"--I'll be bound that deeply engaged couple
didn't catch sight of the "chiel takin' notes"--and how did _he_ know
for certain they were a couple of lovers? Why not brother and sister?