ible that praise of you could be so exaggerated as to
make you feel ashamed?"

"I should say, perfectly impossible; that is, to a mind regulated as
mine, over-elation could never happen. Tell me, therefore, what he
said?"

"I can't remember one-half of it; he remarked how few men in the
career--I conclude he meant diplomacy--could compare with you; that
you had such just views about the state of Europe, such an accurate
appreciation of publie men. I can't say how many opportunities you
mustn't have had, and what valuable uses you have not put them to. In
a word, I felt that I was about to travel with a great statesman and a
consummate man of the world, and was-terrified accordingly."

"And now that the delusion is dispelled, how do you feel?"

"But is it dispelled? Am I not shocked with my own temerity in daring to
talk thus lightly with one so learned?"

"If so," said I, "you conceal your embarrassment wonderfully."

And then we both laughed; but I am not quite sure it was at the same
joke.

"Do you know where you are going?" said I, taking out a travelling-map
as a means of diverting our conversation into some higher channel.

"Not in the least"

"Nor care?"

"Nor care."

"Well, I must say, it is a most independent frame of mind. Perhaps you
could extend this fine philosophy, and add, 'Nor with whom!'"

I was not at all conscious of what an impertinence I had uttered till
it was out; nor, indeed, even then, till I remarked that her cheek had
become scarlet, and her eyes double as dark as their wont.

"Yes," said she, "there is one condition for which I should certainly
stipulate,--not to travel with any one who could needlessly offend me."

I could have cried with shame; I could have held my hand in the flame of
a fire to expiate my rude speech. And so I told her; while I assured her
at the same time, with marvellous consistency, that it was not rude at
all; that it was entirely misconception on her part; that _nous autres
diplomates_--Heaven forgive me the lying assumption!--had a way of
saying little smartnesses that don't mean much; that we often made our
coin ring on the table, though it turned out bad money when it came to
be looked at; that Talleyrand did it, and Walewsky did it, and I did
it,--we all did it!

Now, there was one most unlucky feature in all this. It was only a few
minutes before this passage occurred, that I said to myself, "Potts,
here is one whose frank, fresh, generous natur