_Nursery Governess._ "NOW, ETHEL, SAY YOUR GRACE, LIKE A GOOD LITTLE GIRL!"
_Nursery Governess._ "OH, ETHEL! DON'T YOU KNOW IT'S VERY NAUGHTY NOT TO BE THANKFUL, AND FOR SUCH A NICE PUDDING TOO?"
_Ethel._ "I WOULD BE THANKFUL, BUT"--(_much distressed_)--"I CAN'T FINISH IT!"]
[At the meeting of the Women's Liberal Federation the following "operative mandatory resolution" was carried:--"That in pursuance of the resolution passed in May 1890, the Council now instructs the Executive Committee that they shall promote the enfranchisement of women, including the local and parliamentary votes for all women, who possess any of the legal qualifications enabling them to vote, among the other Liberal reforms now before the Country, whilst not making it a test question at the approaching Election."]
SCENE--_"At the Nets" on the St. Stephen's Cricket Ground. "The Champion" has been practising in the interval, prior to playing in the Great Match of the Season, "Unionists v. Home-Rulers." Various admiring Volunteers of both sexes have been "scouting" for him._
_First Admiring Bystander._ By Jove, that was a slashing hit! What powder he puts into it, eh? At _his_ age too!
_Second A.B._ Oh, the Grand Old 'Un's in great form this season. Like 'tother W.G., who's just back from the Antipodes and, at forty-four, can knock up his sixty-three in sixty-five minutes. There he goes again, clean over all the "scouts"!
_First A.B._ Oh! he gives 'em plenty to do, "in the country." Keeps 'em on the shift, eh?
_Second A.B._ Bless you, yes. Why a hit like that, _run out_, would be worth seven to his side-_in_ a match!
_First A.B._ (_knowingly_). Ah, but I notice that _in a match_ these tremendous swipes don't always come off, don'tcher-know. I've seen some tremendous sloggers at the nets make a wonderful poor show when between wickets with a watchful "field" round 'em.
_Second A.B._ (_with candour_). Ah, quite so, of course. Everyone must have noticed that. With a demon bowler in front of yer sending 'em down like hundred-tonners, and a blarmed cat of a wicket-keeper on the grab just at your back, not to mention a pouncer at point, it puzzles the best of them to get 'em away, though "in a position of greater freedom and less responsibility," practising at the nets, to wit, with only the ground-bowler and a few scouts fielding, they may punish 'em properly.