“Especially when the theme of their consideration is the ’Jolly Red Nose,’” interposed the wicked minx at his other elbow.

Two giddy girls tittered, unawed by Mrs. Aylett’s proximity and her brother’s owl-like stare at his critic.

“You may not be aware, Miss Tazewell, that the lyric to which you have reference is celebrated, both for its antiquity, and the pleasing harmonies that must ever commend it to the taste of the true lover of music; although I allow that to a disciple of the modern and more flimsy school of this glorious art, it may seem puerile and ridiculous,” he remarked, in grandiose patronage.  Then, again to Mabel, “There were four of us—­as I said—­all students.  What is it, Clara?”

“I have dropped my bracelet upon the floor, between you and Miss Tazewell,” stooping to shake out Rosa’s full skirts from which the trinket fell with a clinking sound.

Three gentlemen darted forward to pick it up, but her husband noted approvingly that while she accepted it graciously from the lucky finder, and thanked the others for their kindly interest in the fate of her “bauble,” she held out her arm to her brother, that he might clasp it again in its place.  Affable always, winning whomsoever she chose to admiration of her personal and mental endowments, she never departed from matronly decorum.  The company agreed silently, or in guarded asides, that she was charming.  No tongue—­even the most reckless or venomous—­ever lisped the dread word, levity, in connection with her name.

“Take care, my dear brother! you will pinch me!” those near heard her say, and she twisted the golden circlet that the clasp might be uppermost.

Rosa’s alert ear caught the hurried murmur which succeeded, and was muffled, so to speak, by her affectionate smile of gratitude.

“What were you about to say?  Will you never learn prudence?”

“The dove has talons, then?” mused the eavesdropper, “But what was he in danger of revealing?”

If the interdicted revelation had connection, close or remote, with the famous quartette club, he kept well away from it after this reminder, beginning, when he resumed his seat, to discourse upon the comparative excellence of wood and coal fires, of open chimney-places and stoves.

Mrs. Aylett smiled an engaging and regretful “au revoir” to the circle, and passed on to look after the comfort and pleasure of her elder visitors, and Rosa soon discovered that her awakened curiosity would be in no wise appeased by listening to the steady, pattering drone of Mr. Dorrance’s oration.  Oratorical he was to a degree that excited the secret amusement of the facile Southern youths about him.  With them, the art of light conversation had been a study from boyhood, the topics suitable for and pleasing to ladies’ ears carefully culled and adroitly handled.  To amuse and entertain was their main object.  Erudite dissertations upon science and