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〃Do you know；〃 said a young lady； standing on the piazza one evening； 〃I have not yet seen the ugly heiress。 I should like to get a peep at her； is she really so very ugly？〃 she continued； addressing a young man at her side。
〃Miss Wyllys； you mean； a perfect frightugly as sin；〃 replied the gentleman。
Elinor； at the very moment； was standing immediately behind the speakers； and Mr。 Ellsworth； who was talking to her； was much afraid she had heard the remark。 To cut short the conversation； he immediately addressed her himself； raising his voice a little； and calling her by name。
The young lady was quite frightened； when she found the 〃ugly heiress〃 was her near neighbour； and even the dandy was abashed； but Elinor herself was rather amused with the circumstance； and she smiled at the evident mortification of the speakers。 Never was there a woman more free from personal vanity than Elinor Wyllys； and she was indifferent to remarks of this kind； to a degree that would seem scarcely credible to that class of young ladies； who think no sound so delightful as that of a compliment。 On the evening in question； the piazzas were crowded with the inmates of the hotels； those who had feeling for the beauties of nature； and those who had not； came out alike； to admire an unusual effect of moonlight upon a fine mass of clouds。 Elinor was soon aware that she was in the neighbourhood of Mrs。 Hilson and her sister； by the silly conversation they were keeping up with their companions。 These Longbridge ladies generally kept with their own party； which was a large one。 The Wyllyses were not sorry that they seldom met； for； little as they liked the sisters； they wished always to treat them civilly； on account of their father。 The English art of 〃cutting〃 is； indeed； little practised in America； except in extreme cases； all classes are too social in their feelings and habits to adopt it。 It is； indeed； an honourable characteristic of those who occupy the highest social position in Americathose who have received； in every respect； the best education in the countrythat； as a class； they are free from the little； selfish； ungenerous feeling of mere exclusiveism。
〃Oh； here you are； Miss Wyllys！〃 exclaimed Emmeline Hubbard to Elinor； who was talking to Mrs。 Creighton。 〃I have been wishing to see you all the afternoonI owe you an apology。〃
〃An apology to me； Miss Hubbard？I was not at all aware of it。〃
〃Is it possible？ I was afraid you would think me very rude this morning； when I spoke to you in the drawing…room； for there was a gentleman with you at the time。 Of course I ought not to have joined you at such a moment； but I was anxious to give you the Longbridge news。〃
〃Certainly； I was very glad to hear it： the conversation you interrupted was a very trifling one。〃
〃Oh； I did not wish to insinuate that you were conversing on a PARTICULARLY interesting subject。 But； of course； I am too well acquainted with the etiquette of polished circles； not to know that it is wrong for one young lady to intrude upon another while conversing with a gentleman。
〃If there be such a point of etiquette； I must have often broken it very innocently； myself。 I have never practised it； I assure you。〃
〃Ah； that is very imprudent； Miss Wyllys！〃 said the fair Emmeline； shaking her fan at Elinor。 〃Who knows how much mischief one may do； in that way？ You might actually prevent a declaration。 And then a young lady is； of course； always too agreeably occupied in entertaining a beau； to wish to leave him for a female friend。 It is not everybody who would be as good…natured as yourself at such an interruption。〃
〃I have no merit whatever in the matter； I assure you； for I was very glad to find that〃
Just at that moment one of Miss Hubbard's admirers approached her； and without waiting to hear the conclusion of Elinor's remark； she turned abruptly from the lady； to meet the gentleman； with a striking increase of grace； and the expression of the greatest interest in her whole manner。
Elinor smiled； as the thought occurred to her； that this last act of rudeness was really trying to her good…nature； while she had never dreamed of resenting the interruption of the morning。 But Miss Hubbard was only following the code of etiquette； tacitly adopted by the class of young ladies she belonged to； who never scrupled to make their manner to men； much more attentive and flattering than towards one of themselves； or even towards an older person of their own sex。
Elinor； however； had seen such manoeuvres before； and she would scarcely have noticed it at the moment； had it not been for Miss Emmeline's previous apology。
Mrs。 Hilson soon approached her。 〃Has Emmeline been communicating our Longbridge intelligence； Miss Wyllys？ Do you think it a good match？〃
〃I hope it will prove so； we were very glad to hear of it。 Mary Van Horne is a great favourite of my aunt's； and Mr。 Roberts； I hear； is highly spoken of。〃
〃Yes； and he is very rich； too； she has nothing at all herself； I believe。''
〃Do you know whether they are to live in New York？ I hope they will not go very far from us。〃
〃I suppose they will live in the city； as he is so wealthy； Mary will have an opportunity of tasting the fascinations of high life。 I shall introduce her to a clique of great refinement at once。 Don't you think Saratoga the most delightful place in the world； Miss Wyllys？ I am never so happy as when here。 I delight so much in the gay world； it appears to me that I breathe more freely in a crowdsolitude oppresses me； do you like it？〃
〃I have never tried it very long。 If you like a crowd； you must be perfectly satisfied； just now。〃
''And so I am； Miss Wyllys； perfectly happy in these fashionable scenes。 Do you know； it is a fact； that I lose my appetite unless I can sit down to table with at least thirty or forty fashionably dressed people about me； and I never sleep sounder than on board a steamboat； where the floor is covered with mattresses。 I am not made for retirement； certainly。 Ah； Monsieur Bonnet； here you are again； I see； what have you done with the Baron？is not the Baron with you？〃
〃No； Madame； he has not finish his cigar。 And where is Mlle。 Emmeline？I hope she has not abandonne me！〃 said M。 Bonnet； who； to do him justice； was a sufficiently respectable man； a French merchant in New York； and no way connected with the Baron。
〃Oh； no； she is here； we were waiting for the Baron and you to escort us to the drawing…room； but we will remain until the Baron comes。 I have heard something that will put you in good…humour； another of those marriages you admire so muchone of the parties rolling in wealth and luxury； the other poor as Job's turkey。〃
〃Ah； vraiment； that is indeed delightful； cela est fort touchant； that show so much sensibilite； to appreciate le merite； though suffering from poverty。 A marriage like that must be beau comme un reve d'Amour！〃
｛〃vraiment〃 = truly； 〃cela est fort touchant〃 = that is very touching； 〃beau comme un reve d'Amour〃 = as beautiful as a dream of Love （French）｝
〃You are quite romantic on the subject； but don't people make such matches in France？〃
〃Ah； non； Madame； le froid calcul dominates there at such times。 I honour t