Sil-ver bells!”

Very silvery, don’t you see?

Stella. Oh, yes! excuse me. (Reads in a very silly tone.)

“Hear the sledges with the bells,

Sil——ver bells!”

Festus. Oh, no, no! that’s too silly.

Stella. Sir!

Festus. I mean, there’s too much of the sil in silver. (Repeats his reading. She imitates it.)

Festus. Ah! that’s better. Thank you: you are charming. (She looks at him.) That is, a charming reader. Go on.

Stella. (Reads.)