men of the world
say that we all arrive at their _modus operandi_ in the end; that
however generously, however trustfully and romantically, we start on the
morning of life, before evening we come to see that in this game we call
the world it is only the clever player that escapes ruin."

"I don't--that is, I won't believe that."

"Quite right, George. The theory would tell terribly against fellows
like us; for, let us do our very best, we must be bunglers at the game.
What a clever pair of hacks are those yonder! that gray the lady is on
has very showy action."

"Look at the liver chestnut the groom is riding--there's the horse
for my money--so long and so low--a regular turnspit, and equal to any
weight. I declare, that's Lady Augusta, and that's Pracontal with her.
See how the Frenchman charges the ox-fences; he 'll come to grief if he
rides at speed against timber."

The party on horseback passed in a little dip of the ground near them at
a smart canter, and soon were out of sight again.

"What a strange intimacy for her, is it not?"

"Julia says, the dash of indiscretion in it was the temptation she
could n't resist, and I suspect she's right. She said to me herself one
day, 'I love skating, but I never care for it except the ice is so thin
that I hear it giving way on every side as I go.'"

"She gave you her whole character in that one trait. The pleasure that
was n't linked to a peril had no charm for her. She ought, however, to
see that the world will regard this intimacy as a breach of decency."

"So she does; she's dying to be attacked about it; at least, so Julia
says."

"The man, too, if he be an artful fellow, will learn many family
details about us, that may disserve us. If it went no further than to
know in what spirit we treat his claim--whether we attach importance to
his pretensions or not--these are all things he need not, should not be
informed upon."

"Cutbill, who somehow hears everything, told us t'other morning, that
Pracontal is 'posted up'--that was his phrase--as to the temper and
nature of every member of your family, and knows to a nicety how to deal
with each."

"Then I don't see why we should meet."

"Julia says it is precisely for that very reason; people are always
disparaged by these biographical notices, their caprices are assumed to
be tastes, and their mere humors are taken for traits of character; and
she declares that it will be a good service to the truth that bringi