r character, and she was
warm and impetuous. Isabella Vincent had moderate abilities, but a very
persevering temper; whatever she had to learn, she laboured at it with
her whole heart, and her disposition was placid and amiable. Miss Grey
was a clever girl; she had been at an excellent school, and was
proficient in most of the minor branches of education. She was fond of
exercising her ingenuity to amuse her companions. One evening she had
collected a party round her, intending to divert them with new
grammatical exercises.

"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.'

"But what is she?" asked Miss Damer.

"A noun proper, certainly, and of the singular number."

'Miss Cotton, demonstrative pronoun; compare _good_, and she is in the
superlative degree.

'Miss Hilton, voice semi-vowels; in the primitive order by nature,
governed by a queer looking definite article.

'Miss Vincent, manner the imperative mood; self, first person singular;
mind, imperfect tense; eyes, positive; voice, in the superlative degree;
nose, the interrogative point.

'Miss Bruce, an interjection, or an interrogative.'

"True," said Miss Damer, "particularly where books are concerned."

"Well, I do love books!" said Miss Bruce; "I do think I could read
every one in Mr. Chiswell's shop without being tired. Have you a new one
to lend me, Miss Damer?"

"If you say