ake some young lady to a play or concert, or anything, he's not only
got to take her, but two or three duennas to keep himself and her
straight; and it's such a tax on him, that if he does it often he's
always poor; and then mothers turn up their noses at him, and say he's
not eligible, and all that.

"Who could have been more strict, as it is called, with any daughter
than Madame Gerot with Louise? Yet see how admirably she turned out!
_Mon Dieu!_ it was frightful! Then there's a dozen other cases I could
cite almost like her. I tell you, Minny, young people can't learn each
other's characters at all, unless they're alone by themselves a little
time. But here, a man must pay his devoirs, and make his proposals, with
a third person's eyes upon him all the time; and has almost to court the
mother as much as the daughter, if not more. Oh! these things make
courting very unpleasant, and marriage sometimes very unhappy, when both
should be the happiest seasons of one's life. Ah, me! it's very hard to
have mothers always act as if their daughters hadn't judgment enough to
be trusted alone a minute."

"Do daughters prove themselves trustworthy always, Miss, when they are
left alone?"

"If mothers would make daughters trustworthy, Minny, I tell you they
must trust them. Society is not conducted in this manner in the North,
yet I believe the young people there are better by far than they are
here. But I don't care much about it now. I used to--but I shall be
married some day to the man I want, and be happy in my own way.

"There, Minny, does that fold, just arranged, look well? Do I appear
quite elegant and pretty now?"

"Quite, Miss."

"What a long lecture I've read you, Minny. I feel quite exhausted, I
declare, and quite like going to bed again. Here's Bernard's letter--put
it with the rest, and take precious, precious care of it."

Fanning herself languidly, Della moved slowly away towards the
breakfast-room. A servant stood waiting to open the door for her, with
an obsequious bow, and she stood in the presence of her parents.

"Dear dort!" cried her mother, (making as she thought an affectionate
abbreviation of daughter,) "what is the matter that you look so flushed
and excited this morning? Your cheeks are really vulgarly red; dear me,
I hope they'll pale off a little before evening."

"Good morning, Della," said Mr. Delancey, formally, who even at home sat
in his usual position, bolt upright in his chair; "good