dabblement

But let us leave these dabblements in acoustics, and come on to a second waterfall, which is, to my mind, as beautiful as the first is magnificent.

The bustling spirit which animated Mrs. Mulligan was this day particularly restless, as if to heighten the effect of her strange visitor's inertia; scouring and dusting were carried on with might and main; half the kitchen was submerged, amphibious Katy floating in the dabblement, and never relaxing but to give her guest a stare, which would have frightened any animal but a German Frau.