“Now, ladies,” she cried, as she held a paper in her hand, “are you all ready, all prepared to listen and to learn? Miss Isabella Vincent, what are you doing? I am certain you do not mean to attend.”
“If she will not attend,” said Miss Damer, stepping into the circle, “I am quite prepared—”
“Oh, Miss Damer, are you here?” cried Miss Bruce: “we shall have no fun now! I thought you were in the drawing-room.”
“Cheerfulness is one thing, fun another; but when they both come together, they are often noisy companions so we must do without them here.”
“But we did not think you would come to us this evening,” said Miss Grey. “Oh, do, Miss Damer, leave us to ourselves one half hour.”
“First let me read the paper you are trying to conceal.”
“You will only think it nonsense,” said Miss Grey; “but don’t be angry, I beg, for it was only for our diversion.”
Miss Damer began to read:
‘Mrs. Adair, substantive proper.’
“Very improper to take this liberty.” ‘Singular number, feminine gender, indicative mood, perfect tense; face, mind, and figure, in the superlative degree.—Miss Warner inclining to the acute accent.’