One of the company leaves the room, and the others fix on a word; such as "like," "care," "sight," "leave," "hear," etc., which is to be introduced into all their answers to the questions she must put to them on her return. When the word is decided on, she is called in, and asks a question of each, in turn. In replying, every one must contrive to use the secret word, without laying any emphasis, or making it conspicuous. If the questioner remarks the frequent recurrence of the same word in the answers, she will easily be able to guess what it is. The one from whose reply she has made the final discovery, then, in her turn, leaves the room while the next word is fixed on, and, on her return, becomes the questioner.

Example.

Maria. Do you go out, Emily. (Emily leaves the room.) Now, what shall be the word?

Helen. " Fear," or " love."

Julia. Will not those words be too conspicuous? Let us try "like."

All. "Like," "like." Let it be " like." Come in, Emily.

Emily (returning). Maria, do you not think the weather is very warm this evening?

Maria. Not warmer than I like it.

Emily. Julia, are you fond of watermelon?

Julia. No. I like pine-apple better.

Emily. Helen, have you read Mrs. Howitt's " Sowing and Reaping"?

Helen. Yes; and I do not like it so well as her " Love and Money."

Emily. Matilda, were you up early this morning ?

Matilda. Very early. I always like to rise with the lark.

Emily. Harriet, did you make that bag yourself ?

Harriet. I did. I like to make bags, pincushions, needlebooks, emery-bags, and every thing of the sort.

Emily. " Like." I have guessed it. " Like " is the word.

Harriet. So it is. Now I will go out. (She goes.)

Charlotte. " Saw." Let " saw " be the word.

Maria. Very well. Come in, Harriet. (Harriet comes in.)

Harriet. Maria, when did you see Clara Simmons ?

Maria. I saw her the day before yesterday, when I was walking with Julia.

Harriet. Julia, was Clara Simmons quite well ?

Julia. Quite. I never saw her look better.

Harriet. Louisa, are you not very much pleased with your handsome drawing-box?

Louisa. Very much. But I saw one in a shop yesterday that was still more complete than mine.

Harriet. Charlotte, are you acquainted with Laura Morton?

Charlotte. I saw her once at a private ball, but have no acquaintance with her.

Harriet. Emily, do not you think the new table in your honeysuckle arbor is too high ?

Emily. Yes ; but the carpenter is coming to-morrow to saw off a piece from each leg, and then it will be a proper height.

Harriet. "Saw," "saw," is the word.

Maria. Ha, ha, ha! Emily, you had better not have used the word " saw " in that sense. You see, Harriet guessed it immediately.

Emily. No matter. I have not the least objection to going out again.