"New York city is now developing a type of its own, I think," said Dexter. "You can tell a New York girl at a glance when you meet her in the West or the South. Women walk more in the city than they do elsewhere, and that has given them a firm step and bearing, which are noticeable." "To think of comparisons between different parts of this raw land of ours, as though they had especial characteristics of their own!" said Miss Vanhorn, looking for a seed. "You have not traveled much in this country, I presume," said Dexter. "No, man, no. When I travel, I go abroad." "I have never been abroad," answered Dexter, quietly. "But I can see a difference between the people of Massachusetts and the people of South Carolina, the people of Philadelphia and the people of San Francisco, which is marked and of the soil. I even think that I can tell a Baltimore, Buffalo, Chicago, Louisville, or St. Louis family at sight." "You go to all those places?" said Miss Vanhorn, half closing her eyes, and speaking in a languid voice, as if the subject was too remote for close attention. "Yes. You are not aware that I am a business man." "Ah? What is it you do?" said the old woman, who knew perfectly Dexter's entire history, but wanted to hear his own account of himself. "I am interested in iron; that is, I have iron mills, and--other things." "Exactly; as you say--other things. Does that mean politics?" "Partly," said Dexter, smiling. "And oil?" "No. I have never had any opportunity to coin gold with the Aladdin's lamp found in Pennsylvania. There is no magic in any of my occupations; they are all regular and commonplace." "Are you in Congress now?" "No; I was only there one term." "A bore, isn't it?" "Not to me." "Congress is always a riot," said Miss Vanhorn, still with her eyes closed. "I can not agree with you," said Dexter, his face taking on one of its resolute expressions. "I have small patience with those Americans who affect to be above any interest in the government of the country in which they live. It _is_ their country, and they can no more alter that fact than they can change their plain grandfathers into foreign noblemen." "Dear me! dear me!" said Miss Vanborn, carelessly. "You talk to me as if I were a mass-meeting." "I beg your pardon," said Dexter, his former manner returning. "I forgot for the moment that no one is in earnest at Caryl's." "By-the-way, how did _you_ ever get in here?" said Miss Vanhorn, with frank impertinence. "I came because I like to see all sides of society," he replied, smiling down upon her with amused eyes. "Give me your arm. You amount to something," said the old woman, rising. "We will walk up and down for a few moments; and, Anne, you can come too." "I am almost sure that he is Helen's Knight-errant," thought Anne. "And I like him _very_ much."