Mr. Mallow beamed and made a little bow over his "wiper," thereby pricking his finger: a crimson drop appeared and fell on the shining linen. Then what a commotion! Melissa flew for water and a "cot." Mrs. Wibird, who could not bear the sight of blood, prepared to faint, but thought better of it, the first red drop being also the last. Miss Almeria and Miss Egeria murmured sympathy, and proffered their own fine handkerchiefs. Mr. Mallow, with manly stoicism, declared that it was "Nothin' at all! nothin' at all! Gives a chance to show that my blood is good and red. None of these white corp'scles they talk about nowadays." "I've heard of them!" said Mrs. Wibird. "Something to do with corpses, are they?" "I presume likely!" Mr. Mallow replied, with reserve. "Ahem! not a subject for ladies, perhaps. Sorry I mentioned 'em." "Have you seen our dear Kitty to-day, Mr. Mallow?" asked Miss Almeria, tactfully, seeing his brow clouded. He had a great deal of delicacy, Mr. Mallow; all Cyrus gentlemen had, she thought gratefully. "Yes, 'm! yes, I have seen her. I hoped--I asked Kitty to join us this evening, but she was degaged. How are you, Very? Come in! come in! Take a seat! Glad to see you!" Mr. Jordano entered, bowing right and left with his best Italian air. "Grazier, Marshall!" he replied urbanely. "Grazier, I'm sure! Good-evening, ladies! Miss Bygood--Miss Egeria--Mrs. Wibird--Miss Melissa"--a separate bow for each lady, but Miss Almeria's was the lowest--"your humble servant!" "We're having us a sewing-bee!" Mr. Mallow announced, beaming over his basket. "I don't know as you'd care to join us, Very. I never saw you handle a needle. I've just wownded myself, long as I've ben at it." "Oh, grazier! grazier!" fluttered Mr. Jordano. (This word was a new acquisition; the good gentleman could not resist flourishing it as if it were a specially fine and clean pocket handkerchief. If you had asked its meaning, he would have explained kindly that it was the Italian word for "thanks!") "I fear I should make but a poor hand at needlework, Marshall. A--a most graceful and feminine accomplishment," he bowed round the circle of ladies, "and one I always watch with delight-tite-tite: but I think I will remain a spectator." He drew a chair into the circle, and took out his notebook. "Any items for the Scribe?" he asked blandly. "After the excitement of last week--I allude to the return of Miss Katharine Ross to her native heath, if I may quote the Wizard of the North--the town has been unusually quiet, and promised to be equally so to-day-tay-tay; but--a--there was another arrival this afternoon." "Indeed!" the ladies exclaimed. "Who----" "I am not aware!" Mr. Jordano waved his notebook in some agitation. "I hoped to find information here, to tell the truth. A distang lady--oh, very distang indeed--quite unknown to me. I failed in my endeavor to interrogate John Tucker; his movements are so extremely quick-wick-wick!"