The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-04-09
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
REALLY INDEED IMPossI-
HIE

Turing prolonged summer sojourn with
kind friends resident in quiet country town,
we became quite interested in the tactics of
the neighbors, nnd acquainted with their
social condition.
Il think we have almost exhausted our
visiting round" said our hostess, Mrs. Smith,
one morning, as she replenished her card
case, "with the exception Of Really, Indeed,
and Impossible, 10 whom we must introduce
you. You look puzzled! but | mean the
'nree Misses Bonderlay, who are usually
oi uished by these interjectional names.
we will forthwith send them an invitation
10 Tea this evening, and they shall be their
own etymologists."
Al the appointed hour, three ladies' were
usnered into the drawing room, bearing SO
startling resemblance to each other in Der.
SON, msnner, and costume, that we at once
decided they must be trims. Not SO, however;
there was year or two's difference in age be-
tween them, which rendered the strong resem
blance more remarkable. They were tall. we'll
formed, plump ladies', Of middle or uncertain
age; with round, unmeaning faces, haxen
locks, and paie-blue eyes. There was not a
perceptible thread or pucker different in their
dresses, which must have fitted all indiscrim-
inateiy; the faxen curls were arranged in
precisely the same waves round each mealv
countenance; and the neat caps, with bright
green ribbons, doubtless had the same exact
quantity OF tulle and gauze in their fashion
ing. Each sister owned delicate work has
ket-trinal baskets also; and in each recepta
Gle reposed a similar squire of worsted-work.
the same to the last stitch. We heard the vis-
itors named as Miss Bonderlay, Miss Paul.
na Bonderlay, and Miss Constantia Bonder-
lay; but that was of no use, since they were
not ticketed, and our blunders became en-
barrassing aud ludcrous. We addressed Miss
Bonderlay as Miss Pauline, when the senior
lady drew up with dignifed comppsure, and
pointing to a sister, said: Il am Miss Boader-
lay: that lady is Miss Paulna Bonderay.'-
And SO on with the other two, who explained
that they were juniors, as they waved a lily
hand towards their eldest sister, indicative Of
her supremacy. But as the evening advanced
we learned to distinguish them by peculi-
arity of expression, which had gained for
these amiable maidens, the somewhat singular
cognomens of Really Indeed and Impossi-
BILE! for their conversation, if conversation it
could be called, consisted almest wholly of
these interjections, pronounced in an unvary-
ing, monofonous voice, while 40 shadow of
emotion was percepible on the cloudless ex-
panse of their unwrinkled physiognomies.
. When they were addressed in the usual con.
versational appeal which demands a reply of
some kind, Miss Bonderlay, slipping her tea or
bending over her work, softly calculated -
"Reallym If you turned TO Miss Paulina for
some more tangible announcement of her
opinion, she responded, in precisely the same
tone: s.Indeed!" And when, as last resource
you looked towards Miss Constantia the word
"lmpossibIe!" and that word alone, fell in
honeyed accents from her ruby lips. By this
means they were easily distinguished; and their
most intimate friends often failed to recognise
which was which when apart, and sometimes
even when they were together, until the
talismanic syllanles gave to each her indi-
viduality. The peculiarly gave rise to little
good-humored ridicule; but for our part, we
thought ii quite wonderful how well they
played their part in conversation with SO smalia
stock of words. There is much pliabilty OF
meaning, however, in an interjection; and in
company, where there are always several per-
sons who are anxious to be heard, it is posi-
4 tive virtue. In Miss Constantia's intonation
other favoiite '.Impossble ~ il seemed to ne
that there mingled a dash of sadness. kind of
musical and melancholy cadence, which was
followed by an unconscious absence of mind,
evidencing the fact, that her thoughts weres
what is vulgarly termed "wool gathering."-9
On mentioning this impression to Mrs. Smith,
she complimented us on our keen observation,
since, in truth, q tinge ofthe romantic did at
tach to The history of the fair Constantia; and
she then sketched the following outline, leaving
all details to be filled up by the Imagination OF
the auditor: '''-
The Misses Bonderlay. it seems, had at
tanned the age of womanbood. when, by the
decease Of their surviving parent, man of
high moral rectitude, but stern discipline
rian, they were left in possession of comforta.
BILE independence, fully equal to their moderate
wants. fhey had been governed with such
an iron rule, and treated as such absolute au-
tomato from their childhood, that when the
hand Of death releasedthem from the despotic
sway. IFS effects still continued apparent in.
the constraint which habit had rendered Sc
cond nature. They continued to reside in
their naive town, only removing 10 smaller
house, and pursued undeviatingIy the routine
they had always been accustomed to-a rou-
tine which might well bear comparison, IN its
monotony and apathy, with that of monasiic
seclusion. Rumor, with her thousand tongues,
had never singled out these vestal ladies' as
objects of matrimonial schemes; no suitors
darkened their doors or disturbed their peace
they made no enemies, and, perhaps, no very
enthusiastic friends. They listened TO the gos-
sip relailed by their neig hboss, as in poiteness
bound, but the imperturbabie "Reallyn'
Indeed!" and "ImPossible.n gave no en-
co0ragement 10 gossip they never askedques-
tons, never propagated reports. but listened
aud calculated, and calculated and listened,
giving and receiving no offence. II never was
positively dtCeJtuiucu sWuttlct inc MISSES
Bonderlay conversed among themselves; but
popular opinion maintained that they did moi,
assigning the ill-natured reasen, that they had
nothing 10 say. Being neither oral enqurers
nor readers, what could they have TO talk
abuuti Sill, popular opinion is often wrong,
and perhaps il was so in this inetance. At any
rate, If they did not exchange confidential SEN
timents, quarrels were avoided; and smoothly
the three fair sisters sailed dswn the lroub.
Ions stream Of time.
Ii was agreat and stirring event in their tran.
gull lives, when maternal uncle, as If 70 vin-
dicate the fidelity of old romance, did actually
return from India to his native land wilh large
fortune. Mr.. Elliston, childless widower.
took up his abode at watering place, and
sent for his eldestDiece, Miss BonderIay. She
promptly obeyed the summons, and Of course
ii was generally reported, with some coIoring,
that the bulk Of the nabob's fortune would be
hers il she s.played her cards we'll" But she
did NOT play her cards well, as the event turned
out; for the old splenetic Indian tired very soon