"Now," said Miss Katy-did, drawing an azalea-leaf towards her, "let us see,--whom shall we have? The Fireflies, of course; everybody wants them, they are so brilliant; a little unsteady, to be sure, but quite in the higher circles." "Yes, we must have the Fireflies," echoed the Colonel. "Well, then,--and the Butterflies and the Moths. Now, there's a trouble. There's such an everlasting tribe of those Moths; and if you invite dull people they're always sure all to come, every one of them. Still, if you have the Butterflies, you can't leave out the Moths." "Old Mrs. Moth has been laid up lately with a gastric fever, and that may keep two or three of the Misses Moth at home," said the Colonel. "What ever could give the old lady such a turn?" said Miss Katy. "I thought she never was sick." "I suspect it's high living. I understand she and her family ate up a whole ermine cape last month, and it disagreed with them." "For my part, I can't conceive how the Moths can live as they do", said Miss Katy with a face of disgust. "Why, I could no more eat worsted and fur, as they do--" "That is quite evident from the fairy-like delicacy of your appearance," said the Colonel. "One can see that nothing so gross and material has ever entered into your system." "I'm sure," said Miss Katy, "mamma says she don't know what does keep me alive; half a dew-drop and a little hit of the nicest part of a rose-leaf, I assure you, often last me for a day. But we are forgetting our list. Let's see,--the Fireflies, Butterflies, Moths. The Bees must come, I suppose." "The Bees are a worthy family," said the Colonel. "Worthy enough, but dreadfully hum-drum" said Miss Katy. "They never talk about anything but honey and housekeeping; still they are a class of people one cannot neglect." "Well, then, there are the Bumble-bees." "Oh, I doat on them! General Bumble is one of the most dashing, brilliant fellows of the day. "I think he is shockingly corpulent," said Colonel Katy-did, not at all pleased to hear him praised, "don't you?" "I don't know but he _is_ a little stout," said Miss Katy; "but so distinguished and elegant in his manners,--something martial and breezy about him." "Well, if you invite the Bumble-bees you must have the Hornets." "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?"