"Are you going to sing, Miss Campbell?" he asked.
"Oh! if I'm properly begged and prayed;" she returned, still making dots on the paper on her knee.
"How much begging and praying do you require?"
"Try," she said, suddenly raising her quaint eyes.
Every body laughed, Mr. Haveloc as much as the rest.
"Everard!" cried Harriet, making way for him, "see if you possess sufficient oratory to persuade Miss Campbell."
"Do," said he, putting on his softest look. They all laughed again. Miss Campbell rose, and walked idly to the piano.
"No eloquence like the laconic," said Mr. Haveloc to Mrs. Fitzpatrick.
"So I perceive," she said smiling, "it was equal to the Spartan—If."