"I don't know but he IS a little stout," said Miss Katy; "but so
distinguished and elegant in his manners--something quite martial and
breezy about him."

"Well, if you invite the Bumble-Bees, you must have the Hornets."

"Those spiteful Hornets! I detest them!"

"Nevertheless, dear Miss Katy, one does not like to offend the
Hornets."

"No, one can't. There are those five Misses Hornet--dreadful old
maids!--as full of spite as they can live. You may be sure they will
every one come, and be looking about to make spiteful remarks. Put
down the Hornets, though."

"How about the Mosquitoes!" said the colonel.

"Those horrid Mosquitoes--they are dreadfully plebeian! Can't one
cut them?"

"Well dear Miss Katy," said the colonel, "if you ask my candid
opinion as a friend, I should say not. There's young Mosquito, who
graduated last year, has gone into literature, and is connected with
some of our leading papers, and they say he carries the sharpest pen
of all the writers. It won't do to offend him."

"And so I suppose we must have his old aunts, and all six of his
sisters, and all his dreadfully common relations."