but for the circumstance that he played shadow to the host's sister
and was Mrs. Aylett's brother. With regard to the feeling
entertained by the former of those ladies for him, there were many
and diverse opinions, but his sister's partiality was unequivocally
exhibited. Of her three brothers, this--the youngest, the least
handsome, and the only bachelor--was her favorite. She took pains to
apprise his fellow-guests of this interesting fact by petting him
openly, and exerting her fullest artifices to bring him out in
becoming colors.

"It is," she answered him now, admiringly. "What a memory you have,
my dear Herbert! Now I am never positive with whom to credit a
quotation. I recollect, since you have spoken, that your famous
quartette-club ussd to render that with much eclat, and how it was
encored at the brilliant private concert you gave in behalf of some
popular charity or other."

Thus encouraged, Mr. Dorrance proceeded to enlarge the fragment:

"Nose, nose, jolly red nose!
Where got you that jolly red nose?
Nutmeg and ginger, cinnamon and cloves,
These gave me this jolly red nose.'

"You did not quote the third line correctly, Miss Tazewell."

"Never having been a college bacchanalian, I am excusable for the
inaccuracy," she retorted. "I did not even know where I picked up
the foolish bit. Having ascertained the origin to be of doubtful
respectability, I shall never use it again."