"Ah, Miss Elinor!--how do you do?" exclaimed the city lady. "It is the first time I have had a chance of seeing you since you returned from the West Indies. You have not been much in New York, I believe, since you arrived?" "Only for a day or two." "And how did you like the West Indies? Is there much aristocracy at Havana?" "We found it very pleasant there; and the climate was of so much service to my aunt, that I shall always remember Havana with gratitude." "You did not go into society, then?" "0h, yes; we made many pleasant acquaintances." "Well, if I go abroad, I hope it will be to England; though I should like very well to visit the stores of Paris." "Have you seen your cousin, Charles Hubbard, since he arrived from Italy?" inquired Elinor. "Yes; he called at our boarding-house. He is at Longbridge now, but he is coming to Saratoga, shortly; for he told me he had engaged to take several views of Lake George." "I am sorry be did not come to see us in town; but I am delighted to hear he is going to Saratoga. Grandpapa, Mrs. Hilson tells me Charles Hubbard will be at Saratoga, with us!" "I am very glad to hear it, my child; I want to see Charlie." "Has he brought home many pictures?" continued Elinor. "I really don't know; I did not think of asking him." "I should suppose you would be anxious to see your cousin's paintings." "Oh, no; portraits are the only pictures that interest me. I always have the 'Book of Beauty,' whenever it comes out; you know they are likenesses of the Peeresses of the English Nobility." {"Book of Beauty" = "Heath's Book of Beauty" an annual volume with engravings of famous British women, sponsored by Charles Heath (1785-1848) (London: Longmans, 1833-1847)} Elinor bowed. "Yes, I have seen the book." "I have the 'Children of the Nobility,' too, bound in crimson silk; it is a very fascinating collection. My friend, Mrs. Bagman, tells me they are excellent likenesses, particularly the children of his Royal Highness, the Lord-Mayor." {"Children of the Nobility" = "Portraits of the Children of the Nobility," A similar publication, also sponsored by Charles Heath (Longmans: London, 1838)} Absurd as such a mistake in heraldry may seem, one might vouch for having heard others quite as extraordinary. "They may be like," said Elinor, smiling in spite of herself; "but I cannot agree with you as to their beauty. I have seen the volume, and it struck me the artists must have made caricatures of many of the children, who, no doubt, were pretty in reality." "I was looking at those engravings only yesterday," said Mr. Ellsworth, anxious to engage Elinor's attention; "they almost amount to a libel on childhood; they give the idea of mincing, affected little creatures, at the very age when children are almost invariably natural and interesting. I should quarrel very much with a portrait of my little girl, in the same fashion."