'The spirit of words,' said Guy, looking eager and interested.

'Well, we'll try,' said Charles, 'though I can't say it sounds to me
promising. Come, Maurice, define an Irishman.'

'No, no, don't let us be personal,' said Laura; 'I had thought of the
word "happiness". We are each to write a definition on a slip of
paper, then compare them.'

The game was carried on with great spirit for more than an hour. It
was hard to say, which made most fun, Maurice, Charles, or Guy; the
last no longer a spectator, but an active contributor to the sport.
When the break-up came, Mary and Amabel were standing over the table
together, collecting the scattered papers, and observing that it had
been very good fun. 'Some so characteristic,' said Amy, 'such as
Maurice's definition of happiness, - a row at Dublin.'

'Some were very deep, though,' said Mary; 'if it is not treason, I
should like to make out whose that other was of happiness.'

'You mean this,' said Amy: '"Gleams from a brighter world, too soon
eclipsed or forfeited." I thought it was Philip's, but it is Sir Guy's
writing. How very sad! I should not like to think so. And he was so
merry all the time! This is his, too, I see; this one about riches
being the freight for which the traveller is responsible.'

'There is a great deal of character in them,' said Mary. 'I should not
have wondered at any of us, penniless people, philosophizing in the fox
and grapes style, but, for him, and at his age--'