Their criticisms were, like most young people's, always in extremes. The girls had either looked "lovely" or "frightful," and the young men were either "charming" or "odious;" and they themselves, from their own account, had been in a constant state of either delight or terror. "I was so afraid Robert Hazlewood was going to ask me to waltz," said Angila; "and he waltzes so abominably that I did not know what I should do. But, to my delight, he asked me only for a cotillion, and I fortunately was engaged. I was so glad it was so." "Then you did not dance with him at all?" "No--to my great joy, he walked off, angry, I believe." "Oh, my dear!" remonstrated her mother. "Why not, mother," replied Angila. "He's my 'favorite aversion.' Well, Augusta," she continued, turning to her friend, "and when do you sail for New Orleans?" "On Monday," replied Augusta. "On Monday!--so soon! Oh, what shall I do without you, Augusta!" said Angila, quite pathetically. "And you will be gone six months, you think?" "Yes, so papa says," replied the young lady. "He does not expect to be able to return before May." "Not before May! And its only November now!" said Angila, in prolonged accents of grief. "How much may happen in that time!" "Yes," returned her friend, gaily, "you may be engaged before that." "Not much danger," replied Angila, laughing. "But remember, I am to be bridemaid," continued Augusta. "Certainly," said Angila, in the same tone, "I shall expect you from New Orleans on purpose." "And who will it be to, Angila," said Augusta. "That's more than I can tell," replied Angila; "but somebody that's very charming, I promise you." "By the way, what is your _beau ideal_, Angila, I never heard you say," continued Augusta. "My _beau ideal_ is as shadowy and indistinct as one of Ossian's heroes," replied Angila, laughing; "something very distinguished in air and manners, with black eyes and hair, are the only points decided on. For the rest, Augusta, I refer you to Futurity," she added, gayly. "I wonder who you will marry!" said Augusta, with the sudden fervor of a young lady on so interesting a topic. "I don't know, only nobody that I have ever seen yet," replied Angila, with animation. "He must be handsome, I suppose," said Augusta. "No," replied Angila, "I don't care for beauty. A man should have a decided air of the gentleman, with an expression of talent, height, and all that--but I don't care about what you call beauty." "You are very moderate, indeed, in your requirements, my dear," said her mother, laughing. "And pray, my love, what have you to offer this _rara avis_ in return for such extraordinary charms." "Love, mamma," replied the gay girl, smiling. "And suppose, my dear," pursued her mother, "that your hero should set as high an estimate upon himself as you do upon yourself. Your tall, elegant, talented man, may expect a wife who has fortune, beauty and talents, too."