THE DOLLS THAT DID THEIR BIT.
"Je vous tends mon corbillon: qu'y met-on?" asked Jeanne, holding out her basket towards the first of her dolls seated in a semi-circle before her. Most of them were quite familiar with the game, but for the sake of a new-comer Jeanne had explained that each player must place in the basket some object the name of which ended with on, to rhyme with corbillon. She had announced that this time the game was in aid of a cause, and that therefore it must be played with things and not with words only.
"Qu'y met-on, Marie?" repeated Jeanne. "Rappelez-vous bien que c'est une quête à l'intention des petites filles polonaises internées au camp de Havelberg!" What, Marie had nothing but her chain necklace, and that did not end in on? No, but the links of the chain did, argued Jeanne. "Donne des chaînons!" she prompted in a whisper. "J'y mets des chaînons," said Marie in Jeanne's thinnest voice, and the necklace found its way into the basket.
"Je vous tends mon corbillon: qu'y met-on? À vous, Marthe. Ô," exclaimed Jeanne, "tu y mets ton chignon? Eh bien, tu sais, n'est-ce pas, bêta, qu'il faut que tu t'y mettes avec!" and into the basket she went after a lingering caress from Jeanne.
"Je vous tends mon corbillon: qu'y met-on?" It was the turn now of Yvonne in her bed. "Comment," said Jeanne, affecting indignation, "si tu n'étais pas si frileuse tu donnerais ton édredon?" And what about the little poupées polonaises internées, snatched from their beds and carried off without any bedclothes at all, let alone an eiderdown! Presently, "J'y mets mon édredon," Yvonne was understood to say, and "Sage!" approved Jeanne.
"Je vous tends mon corbillon: qu'y met-on? Jacques, mon pauvre ami, tu n'as pas de chance, hein?" There was no help for it; it was the only thing he had that rhymed. "Imagine la joie des petites polonaises internées!" she urged, taking the necessary action. "J'y mets mon pantalon," piped a disconsolate little thread of voice.
"Je vous tends mon corbillon: qu'y met-on? A vous, Mikadesse!" A beam of pleasure, succeeded by a falling of the countenance, then a look of decision, ended in a "Houp-là!" as the Japanese doll descended into the basket, and was made to say, "J'y mets une poupée du Japon!" After all she was an ally of the little polonaises.
"Je vous tends mon corbillon: qu'y met-on? Allons, les jumeaux! à vous!" Jeanne thought the twins were really in a plight and that she would have to help them out with a gift, but, quick as thought, Castor seized Pollux, saying, "J'y mets mon compagnon!" and Pollux, divining his intention, grasped Castor, declaring excitedly, "Et moi aussi, j'y mets mon compagnon" And into the basket they leapt together. "Ils s'entêtent à rester inséparables," sighed Jeanne; "c'est bien."
"Je vous tends mon corbillon: qu'y met-on?" Adélaïde never had possessed anything worth giving away, and yet she seemed to be suggesting that the contents of the basket did not look very imposing so far, and would hardly be enough to go round among so many little Poles, so Jeanne came to the rescue with gifts of toys until "J'y mets ma contribution!" came jubilantly forth in a voice that forgot to be Adélaïde's.
All had now contributed. Yet Jeanne had a feeling that somehow it was not the end of the game. She pondered gravely for a few moments, then, placing herself solemnly before the mirror, she addressed herself:—
"Jeanne, je vous tends mon corbillon: qu'y met-on?" After a few seconds she began to see what she ought to do.
"Qu'y mets-tu, Jeanne?" It would be rather hard, but she must do it.
Sitting down and turning up the skirt of her frock, she took each of the contributors, kissed and caressed them, and placed them in her lap. Adélaïde only did she except, explaining to the others, "Oui, mes chéris, je garde Adélaïde, car savez-vous bien, c'est elle qui me donne des idées; je prends toujours conseil avec elle. Alors, n'est ce pas?" Then, carrying the dolls in her petticoat, she solemnly undid the button, let it slip down with the dolls inside, and placed it resolutely in the basket, saying: "J'y mets mon jupon!"
What was Adélaïde saying? One must give cheerfully and not regret the gift? Surtout il ne faut pas verser une larme!
So, hugging her doll, Jeanne returned to the mirror and added, smiling, "Avec sa-tis-fac-ti-on!"
Officer's Servant (replying to adverse criticism of war-worn charger). "I 'eard the guvnor say there was three 'undred quid refused for 'im before the War. What do you think of that?"
Jock. "Weel, I'm thenkin' there was twa fools met that day, and i dinna ken which o' them was the bigger."
"Prospects in English Literature.
III.—Looking Backward."—The Athenæum.
We trust this is only preliminary to a further advance.
"Shepherds in Scotland are feeding lambs with whisky and hot milk. Many titled landed proprietors are acting as shepherds."—Daily News.
Surely our Radical contemporary does not mean to suggest—