'Then be so good as to enlighten me. I see a moving kaleidoscope view of figures—it's very pretty—but why are they all here?'
'Some because they were invited,' said the witch critically. 'And doubtless some because others were. And a good many for fun—and a few for mischief.'
'Is it the custom in this country to make mischief one of the pleasures of society?'
'Yes!' said the witch with some emphasis. 'And to tell you the truth again, that is just one of the points in which society might be improved.'
'But how do fun and mischief go along together?'
'Well, that depends,' said the witch. 'The wrong sort of mischief spoils the right sort of fun.'
'And does that often happen, among such well-dressed people as these?'
'O, where if her Grace?'—cried a gay voice in the distance.
'I've sworn to find her.'
The witch was silent a moment, then answered slowly, 'It happens—quite often.'
'Can people find nothing pleasanter to do with their time,' said the countryman, 'than to spend it in mischief? or in fun which the mischief spoils? These things you tell me sound very strange in my ears.'