"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 common! 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."

"It is a pity," said the Colonel, "but one must pay one's tax to
society."

Just at this moment the conference was interrupted by a visitor,