rry Lady Mabel Grex?"

"No."

"Then I beg your pardon. I was told that you were engaged to her. And
I thought your choice was so fortunate, so happy! I have seen no girl
here that I admire half so much. She almost comes up to my idea of
what a young woman should be."

"Almost!"

"Now I am sure that if not engaged to her you must be in love with
her, or my praise would have sufficed."

"Though one knows a Lady Mabel Grex, one may become acquainted with a
Miss Boncassen."

There are moments in which stupid people say clever things, obtuse
people say sharp things, and good-natured people say ill-natured
things. "Lord Silverbridge," she said, "I did not expect that from
you."

"Expect what? I meant it simply."

"I have no doubt you meant it simply. We Americans think ourselves
sharp, but I have long since found out that we may meet more than our
matches over here. I think we will go back. Mother means to try to
get up a quadrille."

"You will dance with me?"

"I think not. I have been walking with you, and I had better dance
with someone else."

"You can let me have one dance."

"I think not. There will not be many."

"Are you angry with me?"

"Yes, I am; there." But as she said this she smiled. "The truth is,
I thought I was getting the better of you, and you turned round and
gave me a pat on the head to show me that you could be master when it
pleased you. You have defended your intelligence at the expense of
your good-nature."

"I'll be shot if I know what it all means," he said, just as he was
parting with her.

CHAPTER XXXII

Miss Boncassen's River-Party. No. 2

Lord Silverbridge made up his mind that as he could not dance with
Miss Boncassen he would not dance at all. He was not angry at being
rejected, and when he saw her stand up with Dolly Longstaff he felt
no jealousy. She had refused to dance with him not because she did
not like him, but because she did not wish to show that she liked
him. He could understand that, though he had not quite followed all
the ins and outs of her little accusations against him. She had
flattered him--without any intention of flattery on her part. She had
spoken of his intelligence and had complained that he had been too
sharp to her. Mabel Grex when most sweet to him, when most loving,
always made him feel that he was her inferior. She took no trouble
to hide her conviction of his youthfulness. This was anything but
flattering. Miss Boncassen, on t