. Is about forty-five years old, I conjecture. Is
engaged in a great law case just now. Said to be very eloquent. Has an
intellectual head, and the bearing of one who has commanded a regiment
or perhaps a brigade. Altogether an attractive person, scholarly,
refined has some accomplishments not so common as they might be in the
class we call gentlemen, with an accent on the word.

There is also a young Doctor, waiting for his bald spot to come, so that
he may get into practice.

We have two young ladies at the table,--the English girl referred to in
a former number, and an American girl of about her own age. Both of them
are students in one of those institutions--I am not sure whether they
call it an "annex" or not; but at any rate one of those schools
where they teach the incomprehensible sort of mathematics and other
bewildering branches of knowledge above the common level of high-school
education. They seem to be good friends, and form a very pleasing pair
when they walk in arm in arm; nearly enough alike to seem to belong
together, different enough to form an agreeable contrast.

Of course we were bound to have a Musician at our table, and we have
one who sings admirably, and accompanies himself, or one or more of our
ladies, very frequently.

Such is our company when the table is full. But sometimes only half a
dozen, or it may be only three or four, are present. At other times
we have a visitor or two, either in the place of one of our habitual
number, or in addition to it. We have the elements, we think, of
a pleasant social gathering,--different sexes, ages, pursuits, and
tastes,--all that is required for a "symphony concert" of conversation.
One of the curious questions which might well be asked by those who had
been with us on different occasions would be, "How many poets are there
among you?" Nobody can answer this question. It is a point of etiquette
with us not to press our inquiries about these anonymous poems too
sharply, especially if any of them betray sentiments which would not
bear rough handling.

I don't doubt that the different personalities at our table will get
mixed up in the reader's mind if he is not particularly clear-headed.
That happens very often, much oftener than all would be willing to
confess, in reading novels and plays. I am afraid we should get a good
deal confused even in reading our Shakespeare if we did not look back
now and then at the dramatis personae. I am sure that I am