because it was dying, and cured it, only it died the next winter, and a
toad, and a raven, and a squirrel, and--'

'That will do, Charlotte.'

'Oh! but Mary has not heard the names of all his dogs. And Mary, he
has cured Bustle of hunting my Puss. We held them up to each other, and
Puss hissed horribly, but Bustle did not mind it a bit; and the other
day, when Charles tried to set him at her, he would not take the least
notice.'

'Now, Charlotte,' said Charles, waving his hand, with a provoking mock
politeness, 'have the goodness to return to your friends.

Tea over, Laura proposed the game of definitions. 'You know it.
Philip,' said she, 'you taught us.'

'Yes I learnt it of your sisters, Thorndale,' said Philip.

'0 pray let us have it. It must be charming!' exclaimed Miss Harper,
on this recommendation.

'Definitions!' said Charles, contemptuously. 'Dr. Johnson must be the
hand for them.'

'They are just the definitions not to be found in Johnson,' said Mr.
Thorndale. 'Our standing specimen is adversity, which may be
differently explained according to your taste, as "a toad with a
precious jewel in its head," or "the test of friendship."'