"Ah, yes," in a very lively tone; "but I never believed it. I never in my life saw a pretty English woman among all that I have seen in New York. To my thinking, they are a sad set of frights. Stiff, formal, and repulsive, they dress in shocking bad taste, and consider themselves and their uncouth fashions as the standards of perfection." "My dear madam, you are right. They are odious creatures. The beauty for which they were once renowned has vanished with the last generation. Our modern English girls are decided barbarians. It is impossible to meet with a pretty English woman now-a-days. I have made a vow to cut them altogether; and if ever I commit such a foolish thing as matrimony, to take to myself an _American_ wife." "Are you in earnest?" with a very fascinating smile, and flashing upon him her fine dark eyes. "Quite so. But, now, you must not take me for a rich English Coelebs in search of a wife. I am an unfortunate scapegrace, have run out all my means, and am not worth a York shilling to jingle on a tombstone. I was obliged to borrow money of my landlord--he's a capital fellow--to pay my washerwoman's bill this morning. So don't fall in love with me. I assure you, on my honour, it would be a bad spec." "Don't be alarmed," returned the dark-eyed girl, evidently much pleased with her odd companion. "Are you very young?" "I was never young. My mother told me that I had cut my wisdom-teeth when I was born. I was wide awake, too, like your clever people, and have kept my eyes open ever since. "You have seen a great deal of the world?" "Yes, too much of it; but 'tis a tolerable world to live in after all." "Were you ever in the United States?" "Only crossed from the other side a few days ago. Did you not notice the arrival of Mr. P--- among the list of distinguished foreigners that honoured your great city with their presence?" "And what struck you most when you got there?" "Oh, the beauty and elegance of the women, of course." "You flatter us." "Fact, upon honour," with a quizzical application of his hand to his heart. "What did you admire in them?" "Their straight up and down figures. They have no vulgar redundancies--no red cheeks and pug noses; and then their voices are so sweet and harmonious, their pronunciation so correct, so every way superior to the boisterous, hearty frankness of our British girls!" "English women have very bad noses--I have remarked that; and they are so horribly fat, and they laugh so loud, and talk in such a high key! My! I often wondered where they learned their manners." "Oh! 'tis all natural to them--it comes to them without teaching." "I have been told that London is a shocking place."