"Up where?" replied his brother, evasively.
"On the porch, if you have eyes for anything less attractive than a young lady with a mop of blue hair," said the indignant Rob.
"Oh—father and mother! Why, I can't see anything strange in our parents sitting on the porch," replied his brother, in a tone of feigned indifference.
"Well, but they have had their heads together and been plotting for an hour; but Maud keeps up such an everlasting racket with her singing and dish-clattering that I can't hear a word they say. That girl positively is noisier than a fire-engine. Now, just listen at that!" as Maud's voice sang in sweet crescendo:—
"Stars are shining, Mollie darling." (Crash, rattle.)
Mrs. Warlow.—"Do you think it possible that they were saved?"
Maud (diminuendo).—
"Through the mystic veil of night." (Rinkety-clink.)
Colonel.—"She may be their daughter, who survived." (Splatter.)
Maud (piano).—