["Mr. GOSSE holds a middle station between the older and the
younger schools of criticism. He is neither a distinguished
and respectable fossil nor a wild and whirling
catherine-wheel."--_Athenaeum._]
Oh, luckiest of Critics! What
A joy unquestioning to feel
On such authority he's not
"A wild and whirling catherine-wheel."
And is it such a wild idea
To think that clever Mr. GOSSE'll
Rejoice he's reckoned not to be a
"Respectable, distinguished fossil?"
* * * * *
[Illustration: THINGS ONE WOULD RATHER HAVE EXPRESSED OTHERWISE.
_Would-be Considerate Hostess_ (_to Son of the House_). "HOW
INATTENTIVE YOU ARE, JOHN! YOU REALLY MUST LOOK AFTER MR. BROWN. _HE'S
HELPING HIMSELF TO EVERYTHING!_"
[_Discomfiture of Brown, who, if somewhat shy, is conscious of a very
healthy appetite._
]
* * * * *