"The jolliest thing out," said Peterson, eagerly. "One never gets tired of seeing the queer things that are in the world."
"I've seen queer enough things in Melbourne in the early days," said the old colonist, with a wicked twinkle in his eyes.
"Oh!" cried Julia, putting her hands up to her ears, "don't tell me them, for I'm sure they're naughty."
"We weren't saints then," said old Valpy, with a senile chuckle.
"Ah, then, we haven't changed much in that respect," retorted Frettlby, drily.
"You talk of your theatres now," went on Valpy, with the garrulousness of old age; "why, you haven't got a dancer like Rosanna."
Brian started on hearing this name again, and he felt Madge's cold hand touch his.
"And who was Rosanna?" asked Felix, curiously, looking up.
"A dancer and burlesque actress," replied Valpy, vivaciously, nodding his old head. "Such a beauty; we were all mad about her—such hair and eyes. You remember her, Frettlby?"
"Yes," answered the host, in a curiously dry voice.