rt of the room, and the door was closed. When again opened, the
three cousins were disclosed in the very height of enjoyment: Charlie's
mirth-provoking face, Cornelia's gay laugh, and George's loud and long
haw-haw, quite upset the gravity of the spectators, and peal after peal
of laughter rewarded the trio. "How merry we are!" said Aunt Lucy. As
she spoke the word, the door was shut, showing that the right expression
had been used. When re-opened, Cornelia was discovered carefully
arranging Charlie's cravat. "Shall I make a sailor's knot, or how shall
I fix it?" "Give it a plain tie, if you please." There was little
difficulty in discovering that the word was _temerity_; and to make
"assurance doubly sure," the whole of it was acted out. George and
Cornelia stood up, holding hands, while Charlie, who had in a
marvellously short time metamorphosed himself into a minister, with
gown, bands, and book, put to the former the question, "Will you take
this woman to be your lawful wife?" "I will," responded George. "Will
you take this man to be your lawful husband?" "No, I will not," answered
Cornelia, hysterically. "You will not? What, madam, is the reason of
this change of purpose? Have you not well considered the matter?" "No, I
have not--I have been very rash--I never saw him till yesterday!" "What
_temerity_!" exclaimed the clergyman reprovingly, and the door was
closed, amid great laughter.

When it was re-opened, George was found seated in the centre of the
room, under the hands of the Doctor, who was examining his eye; while
Cornelia, with an appearance of great anxiety, held the light. "Is it
out yet?" "No, Doctor: I feel it still--how it hurts!" Thereupon the
Doctor produced a formidable instrument from his pocket, and appeared
about to gouge out the eye by way of curing it; and the door was closed
amid cries of "eye!" "eye!" "eye!"--quite parliamentary, as Charlie
said. The second scene disclosed Cornelia apparently engaged in
household avocations, which were interrupted by a rap at the door. She
gave admittance to a man and boy who were peddling tin wares, and there
ensued such a sounding of tin-pans, and such a chaffering about tins,
that no doubt could exist in the minds of the spectators as to the word.
To act out the third syllable, Cornelia and George were seated at a
table, with lamp and books, when a knock was heard, and a traveller,
with carpet-bag and umbrella, entered the room. He had lost his way--he
was