opposite arm in a diamond sunburst and a knot of tulle, on accidentally
meeting its opponent half." It really is quite like that, too! Will is
as amusing as ever. And he was _so_ sweet about the party. Of course,
at first, I had to be very diplomatic and get his consent without his
knowing. He still hates society in the most unreasonable manner; would
even rather stay at home quietly than go to his club. But last night he
accepted the inevitable and behaved like a prince. I wonder how many
couples in New York who have been married nineteen years are as happy
as Will and I are? He made a great fuss, of course, about the champagne
and cigars. You would have thought the whole fate of the ball depended
upon them; and I must say they cost a ridiculous price. However, he
pays for them, and they made him happier; so I don't complain. I am
sure, after all, he enjoyed the ball thoroughly, too. You could see it
in his face. And what perfect manners he has! Do you remember? Will may
not be "smart," but he's a gentleman, and his grandfathers before him
were gentlemen, and that always tells.

We don't seem to have had many grandfathers, my dear--of our own, I
mean, of course. I know you've married a wonderful collection of them,
dating back to goodness knows when, but it isn't so important for
American women; they can acquire breeding in their own lifetime. I know
no other nation whose women can do the same, and even our men haven't
the same ability. Look at the American duchesses--don't they grace even
the parties at Marlborough House? Look at yourself, my dear girl. But
you won't, because you're too modest. Still you must acknowledge your
success in England is conspicuous. Will's manners are perhaps a little
old-school, but that's much better than the new-school. Young men's
manners nowadays are becoming atrocious, and I'm sorry to say I think
they get them from England. The first thing one knows the only
gentlemen left in America will be the women. But I hope American men
_won't_ lose their reputation--deserved, you must acknowledge--of being
the most courteous men in the world to women. Well, to go back to the
ball. Of course, all my feelings outside my guests were centered in
Helen. I might as well tell you at once, she is considered the most
attractive debutante of the year--not by me, I don't mean, nor by my
friends, but by the people who hate us, and _everybody_. I think she is
very like you, a sort of _distingue_ air that y