152 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUNTER. 



The excitement was immense. The supper was pass- 

 ed over with a contempt, rivalling that which is cast 

 upon an excellent farce played preparatory to a dull 

 tragedy, in which the star is to appear. The furniture 

 was all critically examined ; but nothing could be dis- 

 covered answering Cash's description. An enormously 

 thick-leafed tahle^ with a " spread " upon it, attracted 

 little attention, timber being so very cheap in a new 

 country, and so every body expected soon to see the 

 piano " brought in," 



Mercer, of course, was the hero of the evening; 

 he talked much and loudly. Cash, as well as several 

 young ladies, went into hysterics at his wit. Mercer, 

 as the evening wore away, grew exceedingly conceited, 

 even for him ; and he graciously asserted that the com- 

 pany present reminded him of his two visits to the " Ca- 

 pitol," and other associations, equally exclusive and pe- 

 culiar. 



The evening worsen apace, and still — no piano. That 

 hope deferred which maketh the heart sick, was felt by 

 some elderly ladies, and by a few younger ones ; and 

 Mercer was solicited to ask Miss Patience Doolittle, to 

 favor the company with the presence of the piano. 



" Certainly," said Mercer, and with the grace of a 

 city dandy he called upon the lady to gratify all present 

 with a little music, prefacing his request with the remark, 

 that if she was fatigued, " his friend Cash would give the 

 machine a turny 



