Mr. S. I say, Guv’nor, that was a near thing.  I wonder you weren’t off.

Capt.  H. I—­ah—­don’t often come off.

Mr. S. You won’t say that when you’ve been ’ere a few times.  You see, they’ve put you on a quiet animal this journey. I shall try to get him myself next time.  He be’aves like a gentleman, he does!

Capt.  H. You won’t mount him, if you take my advice—­he has rather a delicate mouth.

Mr. S. Oh, I don’t mind that—­I should ride him on the curb, o’ course. [The Class ride at the hurdle, one by one.

R.M. Now, Mr. SNIGGERS, give ’im more of ’is ’ed than that, Sir—­or he’ll take it....  Oh, Lor, well, it’s soft falling luckily!  Mr. JOGGLES, Sir, keep him back till you’re in a line with it....  Better, Sir; you come down true on your saddle afterwards, anyway!...  Mr. PARABOLE!...  Ah, would you? Told you he was tricky, Sir!  Try him at it again....  Now—­over!...  Yes, and it is over, and no mistake!

Mrs. B.-K. Now it’s ROBERT’s turn.  I’m afraid he’s been overtiring himself, he looks so pale.  BOB, you won’t let him jump too high, will you?—­ Oh, I daren’t look.  Tell me, my love,—­is he safe?

Her Friend. Perfectly—­they’re just brushing him down.

AFTERWARDS.

Mrs. B.-K. (to her Son).  Oh, BOB, you must never think of jumping again—­it is such a dangerous amusement!

Robert (who has been cursing the hour in which he informed his parent of the exact whereabouts of the school.) It’s all right with a horse that knows how to jump.  Mine didn’t.

The Friend. I thought you seemed to jump a good deal higher than the horse did.  They ought to be trained to keep close under you, oughtn’t they? [ROBERT wonders if she is as guileless as she looks.

Capt.  Cropper (to the R.M.).  Oh, takes about eight months, with a lesson every day, to make a man efficient in the Cavalry, does it?  But, look here—­I suppose four more lessons will put me all right, eh?  I’ve had eight, y’know.

R.M. Well, Sir, if you arsk me, I dunno as another arf dozen’ll do you any ’arm—­but, o’course, that’s just as you feel about it.

    [Captain CROPPER endeavours to extract encouragement from
    this Delphic response.

* * * * *

[Illustration:  THE RUSSIAN WOLF AND THE HEBREW LAMB.

(After a well-known Picture.)]

* * * * *

TIT-WILLOW.

(A NEW VERSION.)