"Constance! do hush!" said her sister. "You are too absurd."
"Fact," said Constance, gravely. "Captain Lewiston was telling me the other night how the thing is managed; and I recognised it immediately, and told him I had often seen it done."
"Hold your tongue, Constance," said her mother, smiling, "and come to breakfast."
Half, and but half, of the mandate the young lady had any idea of obeying.
"I can't imagine what you are talking about, Constance," said
Edith.
"And then, being a friend, you see," pursued Constance, "we can do nothing but fire a salute, instead of demolishing her."
"Can't you!" said Fleda. "I am sure many a time I have felt as if you had left me nothing but my colours."
"Except your prizes, my dear. I am sure I don't know about your being a friend, either, for I have observed that you engage English and American alike."
"She is getting up her colours now," said Mrs. Evelyn, in mock gravity "you call tell what she is."
"Blood-red!" said Constance. "A pirate! I thought so," she exclaimed, with an ecstatic gesture. "I shall make it my business to warn everybody."