"Instead of that," said Charlie, "let the unlucky wight who makes the greatest number of blunders, have the privilege of proposing the first game to-morrow."
"Very well," said Mary, throwing her handkerchief at Tom. "Water."
"Codfish," answered he, tossing it to Cornelia. "Earth."
"Elephant," replied Cornelia, sending the missive to Charlie. "Fire."
"Water," rejoined Charlie, flinging it to Amy.
"Eel," responded Amy, casting it into Anna's lap. "Air."
"Eagle," cried the latter, hurling the embroidered cambric at George's face. "Earth."
"Have pity upon my poor little handkerchief!" said Mary. And so the game proceeded; and simple though it was, it caused diversion.
"Who shall be appointed to tell the story to-night?" asked Ellen. "It seems to me that Tom or Charlie, George or John should be selected; as it generally happens, 'the softer sex' has done the chief talking. Isn't it right and proper for the boys to take their equal share?"
"Oh, by no means!" answered Charlie. "It is the ladies' privilege—it would be very ungallant to deprive them of it. Besides, my trade is that of a critic, not an author: you must be aware that it is a higher branch, giving larger scope to my superior judgment and exquisite powers of fault-finding. Yes, criticism is my forte: do you tell stories, Ellen, and I'm the chap to slash them up."