NINETTE
But what?

NINON
Suppose it were not so?
Suppose there _were_ true men, you know!

NINETTE
And then?

NINON
Why, if that _could_ occur,
What kind of men should you prefer?

NINETTE
What looks, you mean?

NINON
Looks, voice and all.

NINETTE
Well, as to that, he must be tall,
Or say, not "tall"--of middle size;
And next, he must have laughing eyes;
And a hook-nose,--with, underneath,
Oh! what a row of sparkling teeth!

NINON (_touching her cheek suspiciously_)
Has he a scar on this side?

NINETTE
Hush!
Some one is coming. No; a thrush:
I see it swinging there.

NINON
Go on.

NINETTE
Then he must fence (ah, look, 'tis gone!)
And dance like Monseigneur, and sing
"Love was a Shepherd,"--everything
That men do. Tell me yours, Ninon.

NINON
Shall I? Then mine has black, black hair ...
I mean, he _should_ have; then an air
Half sad, half noble; features thin;
A little _royale_ on the chin;
And such a pale, high brow. And then,
He is a prince of gentlemen;--
He, too, can ride and fence and write
Sonnets and madrigals, yet fight
No worse for that--

NINETTE
I know your man.

NINON
And I know yours. But you'll not tell,--
Swear it!

NINETTE
I swear upon this fan,--
My grandmother's!

NINON
And I, I swear
On this old turquoise _reliquaire_,--
My great-_great_-grandmother's!--
_(After a pause)_

Ninette!
I feel _so_ sad.

NINETTE
I too. But why?

NINON
Alas, I know not!

NINETTE (_with a sigh_)
Nor do I.

BRITISH FESTIVITIES
[Sidenote: _Mark Twain_]

Niagara Falls is a most enjoyable place of resort. The hotels are
excellent, and the prices not at all exorbitant. The opportunities for
fishing are not surpassed in the country; in fact, they are not even
equalled elsewhere. Because, in other localities, certain places in the
streams are much better than others; but at Niagara one place is just as
good as another, for the reason that the fish do not bite anywhere, and
so there is no use in your walking five miles to fish, when you can
depend of being just as unsuccessful nearer home. The advantages of this
state of things have never here