Our worthy friend John Bull would doubtless like to have his virtue discoursed upon at length. He prides himself upon it not a little; he likes it talked about. Yet one would be almost tempted to believe that he leaves all his superfluous stock of that commodity in the cloak-rooms at Dover and Folkestone, before embarking on board the boats of the South-Eastern Railway Company. Good heavens! But what an emancipated look he has in Paris! What a metamorphosis! How the corners of his mouth go up! How he throws his insular reserve overboard! Why, this can never be John! Somebody must have substituted an inferior article; he does not look half so good. And when he returns home to his island, what endless tales he has to tell about the immorality of Paris and Brussels! Shocking! Dreadful! Funny constitution! When he has had his little round of a fortnight on the Continent, he seems to resume his quiet, godly habits for the rest of the year. How he must have improved each shining hour! * * * * * The virtue of an Englishman is bounded on the south by the English Channel; on the west by the Atlantic Ocean; on the east by the North Sea. * * * * * "Why do you employ so many Germans in your offices?" I asked one day of a great City man. ----"Because they speak several languages," he replied. ----"But could you not find Englishmen who have lived abroad, that would do as well?" ----"I could find plenty, no doubt; but I should have no confidence in their steadiness. You must not lose sight of an Englishman." ----"You don't mean it!" I cried. "Is that the opinion you have of your countrymen?" ----"I don't believe in the virtue of an Englishman on the Continent," he replied seriously. ----"What! You would not trust a...." ----"I would trust nobody." ----"Not even a bishop?" ----"Not even a bishop." * * * * * "Things are dreadfully dear in France; one spends no end of money in Paris," said another Briton to me one day. ----"Do you think so?" I replied. "When I am in Paris, and am staying at an hotel, I spend but about twenty-five francs a day, and I live like a prince." ----"Frightfully dear! I tell you." ----"And you talk of going again next month?" ----"Yes, but I shall have my wife with me." ----"What! you will take your wife! You will spend double as much then...." ----"Not at all, I...." My islander checked himself; he felt he had gone a little too far, and a deep blush spread over his countenance. "Oh! I beg your pardon," I cried; "of course you are quite right.... I was not thinking." Was I not a simpleton? IV. The Marriage Ceremony in England--Civil Marriages--Elopements--Marriage in Scotland--Show your Credentials--One word more about the _dot_. Marrying one of John Bull's daughters is not all honey.