dy the value of
words, eh, Mr.--Mr.--Le Clear?"

The real Mr. Le Clear and his fiction looked at each other, and by a
rapid interchange of glances signified their inability to extricate
themselves from the snarl, except by a dangerous cut, which Nicholas had
not the courage at the moment to give. The rest of the company were
mystified; and Mr. Manlius, pocketing the character which he had just
been giving, free of charge, to his new acquaintance, turned to his
wife, and whispered awfully, "An impostor, Caroline!" Mrs. Manlius
looked anxiously and frightened back to him; but he again whispered,
"Wait for further developments, Caroline!" and she sank into a state of
terrified curiosity. Fortunately, Mrs. Starkey was at the moment
confiding much that was irrelevant to Mr. Le Clear the actual, who did
not call her attention to the words. The four musical gentlemen were
divided upon the accuracy of their hearing.

Miss Pix, who had been bustling about, unconscious of the mystery, now
created a diversion by saying, somewhat flurried by the silence that
followed her first words,--

"Our musical friends have brought a pleasant little surprise for us;
but, Mr. Pfeiffer, won't you explain the Children's Symphony to the
performers?"

Everybody at once made a note of Mr. Pfeiffer, and put a private mark on
him for future reference; while he good-humoredly, and with embarrassing
English, explained that Miss Pix had proposed that the company should
produce Haydn's Children's Symphony, in which the principal parts were
sustained by four stringed instruments, which he and his friends would
play; while children's toy-instruments, which the other three were now
busily taking out of a box, would be distributed among the rest of the
company; and Miss Pix would act as leader, designating to each his or
her part, and time of playing.

The proposal created considerable confusion in the company, especially
when the penny-trumpet, drum, cuckoo, night-owl, quail, rattle, and
whistle were exhibited, and gleefully tried by the four musical friends.
Mr. Manlius eyed the penny-trumpet which was offered him with a doubtful
air, but concluded to sacrifice his dignity for the good of the company.
Mrs. Manlius received her cuckoo nervously, as if it would break forth
in spite of her, and looked askance at Nicholas to see if he would dare
to take the night-owl into his perjured hands. He did take it with great
good-humor, and, at Miss Pix's request