"Indeed I shall not, mamma!"
"Mamma!" said Constance now coming in with Edith,--"isn't breakfast ready? It strikes me that the fowling-piece wants polishing up. I have an indistinct impression that the sun would be upon the meridian if he was anywhere."
"Not quite so bad as that," said Fleda smiling;--"it is only an hour and a half since I came down stairs."
"You horrid little creature!--Mamma, I consider it an act of inhospitality to permit studious habits on the part of your guests. And I am surprised your ordinary sagacity has not discovered that it is the greatest impolicy towards the objects of your maternal care. We are labouring under growing disadvantages; for when we have brought the enemy to at long shot there is a mean little craft that comes in and unmans him in a close fight before we can get our speaking-trumpets up."
"Constance!--Do hush!" said her sister. "You are too absurd."
"Fact," said Constance gravely. "Capt. Lewiston was telling me the other night how the thing is managed; and I recognized 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."