'Really it is so ultra-splendid as to deserve notice!' said Philip,
throwing himself completely back, and looking up.

'One cannot help revelling in that deep blue!' said Laura.

'Tomorrow'll be the happiest time of all the glad new year,' hummed Guy.

'Ah you will teach us all now,' said Laura, 'after your grand singing
lessons.'

'Do you know what is in store for you, Guy?' said Amy. 'Oh! haven't you
heard about Lady Kilcoran's ball?'

'You are to go, Guy,' said Charlotte. 'I am glad I am not. I hate
dancing.'

'And I know as much about it as Bustle,' said Guy, catching the dog by
his forepaws, and causing him to perform an uncouth dance.

'Never mind, they will soon teach you,' said Mrs. Edmonstone.

'Must I really go?'

'He begins to think it serious,' said Charles.

'Is Philip going?' exclaimed Guy, looking as if he was taken by
surprise.

'He is going to say something about dancing being a healthful recreation
for young people,' said Charles.

'You'll be disappointed,' said Philip. 'It is much too hot to moralize.'

'Apollo unbends his bow,' exclaimed Charles. 'The captain yields the
field.'

'Ah! Captain Morville, I ought to have congratulated you,' said Guy. 'I
must come to Broadstone early enough to see you on parade.'

'Come to Broadstone! You aren't still bound to Mr. Lascelles,' said
Charles.

'If he has time for me,' said Guy. 'I am too far behind the rest of the
world to afford to be idle this vacation.'

'That's right, Guy,' exclaimed Philip, sitting up, and looking full of
approval. 'With so much perseverance, you must get on at last. How did
you do in collections?'

'Tolerably, thank you.'

'You must be able to enter into the thing now,' proceeded Philip. 'What
are you reading?'

'Thucydides.'

'Have you come to Pericles' oration? I must show you some notes that I
have on that. Don't you get into the spirit of it now?'

'Up-hill work still,' answered Guy, disentangling some cinders from the
silky curls of Bustle's ear.

'Which do you like best--that or the ball?' asked Charles.

'The hay-field best of all,' said Guy, releasing Bustle, and blinding
him with a heap of hay.

'Of course!' said Charlotte, 'who would not like hay-making better than
that stupid ball?'

'Poor Charlotte!' said Mrs. Edmonstone; commiseration which irritated
Charlotte into standing up and protesting,

'Mamma, you know I don't want to go.'

'No more do I, Charlotte,' said her brother, in a mock