"Yes, sir," he said, addressing Dr. Cushing; "I consider this as the ruin of the State of Connecticut! It's the triumph of the lower orders; the reign of 'sans culotte-ism' begun. In my opinion, sir, we are over a volcano; I should not be surprised, sir, at an explosion that will blow up all our institutions!" Dolly's eyes grew larger and larger, although she was a little comforted to observe the Judge carefully selecting a particular variety of cake that he was fond of, and helping himself to a third cup of tea in the very midst of these shocking prognostications. Dolly had not then learned the ease and suavity of mind with which both then and ever since people at tea drinkings and other social recreations declare their conviction that the country is going to ruin. It never appears to have any immediate effect upon the appetite. Dolly looked at her father, and thought he assented with somewhat of a saddened air; and Mrs. Davenport looked concerned; and Mrs. Judge Gridley said it was a very dark providence why such things were permitted, but a little while after was commending the delicacy of the cake, and saying she must inquire of Venus about her peculiar mode of confection. Judge Gridley--a white-haired, lively old gentleman with bright eyes, who wore the old-fashioned small-clothes, knee-buckles, silk stockings and low shoes--had fixed his eyes upon Dolly for some time, and now crossing the room drew her with him into a corner, saying: "Come, now, Miss Dolly, you and I are old friends, you know. What do you think of all these things?" "Oh, I'm so glad you came," said Dolly, with a long sigh of relief. "I hoped you would, because mamma said I mustn't talk unless somebody spoke to me, and I do so want to know all about those dreadful things. What is a volcano? Please tell me!" "Why, my little Puss," he said, lifting her in his lap and twining her curls round his finger, "what do you want to know that for?" "Because I heard Judge Belcher say that we were all over a volcano and it would blow us all up some day. Is it like powder?" "You dear little soul! don't you trouble your head about what Judge Belcher says. He uses strong language. He only means that the Democrats will govern the state." "And are they so dreadfully wicked?" asked Dolly. "I want to tell you something"--and Dolly whispered, "Bessie Lewis's father is a Democrat, and yet they don't seem like wicked people." "No, my dear; when you grow up you will learn that there are good people in every party." "Then you don't think Bessie's father is a bad man?" said Dolly. "I'm so glad!" "No; he's a good man in a bad party; that is what I think." "I wish you'd talk to him and tell him not to do all these dreadful things, and upset the state," said Dolly. "I thought the other night _I_ would; but I'm only a little girl, you know; he wouldn't mind me. If I was a grown-up woman I would," she said, with her cheeks flushing and her eyes kindling.