“Yes, yes, young ladies; shake your heads as much as you like! The best behaved and the cleverest of you all is—but I will not say who; for she is the only one of my class who has any modesty, and I am afraid that if I were to name her she would instantly lose that rare virtue which I wish”—
“In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti,” sang Costanza, impudently.
“Amen,” sang all the other young girls in chorus.
“Horrid thing!” said Clorinda, pouting prettily and giving a little tap with the handle of her fan on the bony and wrinkled fingers which the singing master had left lying idly on the silent key-board of the organ.