game had ended in a seemly scramble for ratafias, would the two
recognise each other's presence, save now and then by a "Hush, if you
please, young people," from the elder sister, followed by a
whispered, "What spirits your dear girls enjoy!" for Mrs. Buzza's
ear.

But at length the signal would be given by Miss Priscilla.

"Come, a little music perhaps might leave a pleasant taste.
What do you say, Vicar?"

Upon which the Vicar would regularly murmur--

"Say, rather, would gild refined gold, Miss Limpenny."

And the Admiral as invariably broke in with--

"Come, Sophy! remember the proverb about little birds that can sing
and won't sing."

This prelude having been duly recited, the Misses Buzza would
together trip to the piano, on which the two younger girls in duet
were used to accompany Sophia's artless ballads. The performance
gained a character of its own from a habit to which Calypso clung, of
counting the time in an audible aside: as thus--

_Sophia_ (singing): "Oh, breathe but a whispered command."
_Calypso: "One, two, three, four_."
_Sophia_: "I'll lay down my life for thee!"
_Calypso: "One, two, three, four_."