“I have noticed,” said SARK, “that of late it has happened that Bills mentioned in the Queen’s Speech come to nothing, whilst the Session is largely taken up with discussion of Bills which find no place in that catalogue.  Last year, for example, JOKIM’s Compensation Bill wasn’t mentioned in the Queen’s Speech; and yet it filled a large part in the programme of the Session.”

“Ah,” said OLD MORALITY, changing the subject, “I see ARPACHSHAD has nearly come up with that leaf.  He’ll be going to his dinner now, I suppose, and I think I must be off.  Shall see you at the House to-morrow.  Sorry for you to break up the associations of your rural life; but that only temporary.”

Saw OLD MORALITY off at the station.  Came back to pack up our spade and hoe, and leave some general instructions with ARPACHSHAD.  He seems much touched at the approaching separation.  Quite unable to continue the lawn-mowing.  Followed us about with his jack-knife open, clipping here and there a dead stem, so as to keep up an appearance of incessant labour.

“Ours is only a change of occupation, ARPACHSHAD,” said SARK.  “We cease to labour here, but we carry on our work in another field.  We go to town, leaving, as the Poet GRAY might have said, the garden to solitude and you.”

“Excuse me, Gents,” said ARPACHSHAD. a look of anxiety crossing his mobile face, “but you can’t leave it to me altogether.  I could manage well enough when you were here, helpin’ and workin’.  But, when you’re gone, I’ll have to have at least one extry man.”  SARK pleased at this testimony to value of our assistance; but it really means that ARPACHSHAD intends to do less than ever, running us into the expense of a second gardener.

* * * * *

PARS ABOUT PICTURES.

[Illustration]

Arrive at Fine Art Society’s Place, and there look at HOKUSAI’s drawings and engravings.  Who was HOKUSAI?  Why, don’t you know?  He was our own LIKA-JOKO’s great-grandfather.  “Great-grandfather was a most wonderful man, There’s none of ’em does what great-grandfather can,” except LIKA JOKO, of course.  Obliged to say this, because I know LIKA JOKO goes about with a Daimio’s two-handed sword, and he would think nothing of giving me the cut direct.  But to return to HOKUSAI—­sounds like sneezing in a Dutch dialect, doesn’t it?—­his drawings are full of originality and humour; he was possessed of wondrous versatility and great industry.  He began to draw at six, and continued till he was well-nigh ninety.  Were he flourishing now, he might illustrate the lucubrations of

Yours par-tially, OLD PAR.

* * * * *

“UP ABOVE THE WORLD SO HIGH!”—­See Mr. Punch Among the Planets—­his Christmas Number.  In spite of its title, it is not “over the heads of the People.”  Look out below!

* * * * *

NOTICE.—­Rejected Communications or Contributions, whether MS., Printed Matter, Drawings, or Pictures of any description, will in no case be returned, not even when accompanied by a Stamped and Addressed Envelope, Cover, or Wrapper.  To this rule there will be no exception.