Beecher,
laughing.

"It may be so," said she, thoughtfully; and now there was silence
between them.

"Have you got sisters, Mr. Beecher?" said she, at length.

"No; except I may call my brother's wife one."

"Tell me of her. Is she young?--is she handsome?"

"She is not young, but she is still a very handsome woman."

"Dark or fair?"

"Very dark, almost Spanish in complexion; a great deal of haughtiness in
her look, but great courtesy when she pleases."

"Would she like me?"

"Of course she would," said he, with a smile and a bow; but a flush
covered his face at the bare thought of their meeting.

"I 'm not so certain you are telling the truth there," said she,
laughing; "and yet you know there can be no offence in telling me I
should not suit some one I have never seen; do, then, be frank with me,
and say what would she think of me."

"To begin," said he, laughing, "she 'd say you were very beautiful--"

"'Exquisitely beautiful,' was the phrase of that old gentleman that got
into the next carriage; and I like it better."

"Well, exquisitely beautiful,--the perfection of gracefulness,--and
highly accomplished."

"She'd not say any such thing; she'd not describe me like a governess;
she 'd probably say I was too demonstrative,--that's a phrase in vogue
just now,--and hint that I was a little vulgar. But I assure you," added
she, seriously, "I'm not so when I speak French. It is a stupid attempt
on my part to catch up what I imagine must be English frankness when
I talk the language that betrays me into all these outspoken
extravagances. Let us talk French now."

"You 'll have the conversation very nearly to yourself then," said
Beecher, "for I'm a most indifferent linguist."

"Well, then, I must ask you to take my word for it, and believe that I
'm well bred when I can afford it. But your sister,--do tell me of her."

"She is 'tres grande dame,' as you would call it," said Beecher; "very
quiet, very cold, extremely simple in language, dresses splendidly, and
never knows wrong people."

"Who are wrong people?"

"I don't exactly know how to define them; but they are such as are to
be met with in society, not by claim of birth and standing, but because
they are very rich, or very clever, in some way or other,--people, in
fact, that one has to ask who they are."

"I understand. But that must apply to a pretty wide circle of this
world's habitants."

"So it does. A great part of Europe, and _all_ A