“I know it by heart Is there nothing new in the fashions,—how are bonnets worn? What's the latest sleeve? What's the color in vogue?”
“A delicate blue, ma'am; a little off the sky, and on the hyacinth.”
“Very becoming to fair people,” said Miss Dinah, with a shake of her blond ringlets.
“'The Prince's Hussars!' Would you like to hear about them, ma'am?”
“By all means.”
“It's a very short paragraph. 'The internal troubles of this unhappy regiment would seem to be never ending. We last week informed our readers that a young subaltern of the corps, the son of one of our most distinguished generals, had thrown up his commission and repaired to the Continent, to enable him to demand a personal satisfaction from his commanding officer, and we now learn that the Major in question is precluded from accepting the gage of battle by something stronger than military etiquette.'”
“Read it again, child; that vile newspaper slang always puzzles me.”
Polly recited the passage in a clear and distinct voice.
“What do you understand by it, Polly?”
“I take it to mean nothing, madam. One of those stirring pieces of intelligence which excites curiosity, and are no more expected to be explained than a bad riddle.”