This judgment is at the same time bold and true. The English do not care about any reputation for politeness, but do greatly care about their dignity, and are extremely afraid of compromising it by being _incautiously_ amiable. When, however, an Englishman knows you, and has come to the conclusion that he can be amiable with safety, that you are not the pushing person he dreads and detests, then his undemonstrative politeness will go much further than that of the Frenchman. You may know Frenchmen for twenty years without getting beyond that first stage of Gallic sociability that gives such a charm to the beginning of intercourse with them. One cause of this difference is that the English are an extremely hospitable people, and the French just the reverse. Acquaintance with French people is therefore very frequently limited to short formal calls, in which everybody acts a part in repeating polite commonplaces, leaving any mutual knowledge of minds and hearts exactly where it was before. [Sidenote: Excessive Politeness as Defence.] Here is another point of contrast that may be worth mentioning. French gentlemen in their intercourse with the middle classes often use an _excessive_ politeness as a defence against intimacy, and this is perfectly understood. English habits would make excessive politeness unnatural, so the Englishman defends himself by a chilling reserve. The purpose is the same in both cases. [Sidenote: The Personal Intention in Manners.] [Sidenote: Dignity, and Polish.] [Sidenote: Virtues of English Behaviour Negative.] [Sidenote: Those of French Behaviour Positive.]