ld be but little in common between the Countess who
had his sister in charge and the young lord beside him, who was not
fast only because he did not like to risk his money.

"Well,--yes; I dare say she is."

"I thought so, peculiarly. I was at that place at Richmond
yesterday."

"The devil you were! What were you doing at The Horns?"

"Lady Cantrip's grandmother was,--I don't quite know what she was,
but something to us. I know I've got a picture of her at Popplecourt.
Lady Cantrip wanted to ask me something about it, and so I went down.
I was so glad to make acquaintance with your sister."

"You saw Mary, did you?"

"Oh yes; I lunched there. I'm to go down and meet the Duke some day."

"Meet the Duke!"

"Why not?"

"No reason on earth,--only I can't imagine the governor going to
Richmond for his dinner. Well! I am very glad to hear it. I hope
you'll get on well with him."

"I was so much struck with your sister."

"Yes; I dare say," said Silverbridge, turning away into the path
where he saw Miss Boncassen standing with some other ladies. It
certainly did not occur to him that Popplecourt was to be brought
forward as a suitor for his sister's hand.

"I believe this is the most lovely place in the world," Miss
Boncassen said to him.

"We are so much the more obliged to you for bringing us here."

"We don't bring you. You allow us to come with you and see all that
is pretty and lovely."

"Is it not your party?"

"Father will pay the bill, I suppose,--as far as that goes. And
mother's name was put on the cards. But of course we know what that
means. It is because you and a few others like you have been so kind
to us, that we are able to be here at all."

"Everybody, I should think, must be kind to you."

"I do have a good time pretty much; but nowhere so good as here. I
fear that when I get back I shall not like New York."

"I have heard you say, Miss Boncassen, that Americans were more
likeable than the English."

"Have you? Well, yes; I think I have said so. And I think it is so.
I'd sooner have to dance with a bank clerk in New York, than with a
bank clerk here."

"Do you ever dance with bank clerks?"

"Oh dear yes. At least I suppose so. I dance with whoever comes up.
We haven't got lords in America, you know!"

"You have got gentlemen?"

"Plenty of them;--but they are not so easily defined as lords. I do
like lords."

"Do you?"

"Oh yes,--and ladies;--Countesses I mean and women of