l--no," replied the pretty girl.

"Did you get anything to eat?" pursued the baroness.

"Oh no," answered the victim, as if this was something preposterous--"of
course I didn't. We did not expect anything. But I had a splendid seat,
and I heard all the toasts and everything."

"That _was_ very nice," answered the baroness, grimly; "but I think we
can do quite as well. We will invite the gentlemen to the
gallery--fortunately, there is one--we will have toasts, and _we_ will
be very entertaining."

Of course the baroness had her way. Here, at once, was an advantage in
the absence of associate members. Rosy cheeks and pretty eyes now
counted in the society for nothing, and when the sister of the county
clerk promptly moved that no gentleman be invited to the floor, the
sexton's wife seconded the motion. It was carried, and on the night
appointed the "Irreparables" had their dinner, and up in the gallery sat
the minister, the sheriff, the county clerk, the editor of the
_Snow-Drift_, the head-teacher and a dozen other gentlemen, all in
strict evening--if still Alaskian--toilettes. At first it was funny.
Then it wasn't funny. It became tiresome, and the sheriff went away. His
boots creaked, the ladies looked up, and then not a married man but
smiled delightedly and settled himself in his seat.

They paid much attention to the wine. It had been bought in New Moscow
of the Hercules Club, and was of course all right. Yet it was over the
wine that the county clerk grew restless. It was not that he wished for
it particularly, but when the "Irreparables" drank champagne with their
soup, sauterne with the meat, ate their nuts and made their toasts with
sherry, his patience was put to a severe test. It was something to see
that most of the glasses went away almost untasted, but the head-teacher
found it best to keep a steady eye upon him and save him from doing more
than mutter his opinions.

But when the toasts came the gallery visibly brightened up. The
"Irreparables" toasted the country and its resources, the United States,
Mrs. Seward, the Centennial, Mrs. Grant, and the widow the chief
alderman was to marry. They drank to Queen Victoria, and, with a
remembrance of past loyalty, to the czarina. To each toast a member
responded in terms fitting and witty, and when the pretty girl arose
and, with a glance at the gallery, gave "The gentlemen--God bless them!"
the baroness stood up and made reply. She thanked the company in th