"I can't perceive why. I am perfectly charmed to hear women speak, in public or private, who have anything good or agreeable to say." "But the publicity is so shocking!" "Is it any more public than waltzing at the great public balls?" "Oh, well, I think lecturing is dreadful; you'll never convince me. I hate all those dreadful, raving, tearing, stramming women." In which very logical and consecutive way the leading topics of the age were elegantly disposed of; and at eleven o'clock I found myself out on the pavement with the inexhaustible Jim, who went singing and whistling by my side as fresh as a morning blackbird. My head was in a pretty thorough whirl; but I was initiated into society,--to what purpose shall hereafter appear. CHAPTER XIX. FLIRTATION. "Look there," said Jim Fellows, throwing down a pair of Jouvin's gloves. "There's from the divine Alice." "A present?" "A philopena." "Seems to me, Jim, you are pushing your fortunes in that quarter?" "Yes; having a gay time! Adoring at the shrine and all that," said Jim. "The lovely Alice is like one of the Madonna pictures--to be knelt to, sworn to, vowed to--but I can't be the possessor. In the meanwhile, let's have as good a time as possible. We have the very best mutual understanding. I am her sworn knight, and wear her colors--behold!" And Jim opened his coat, and showed a pretty knot of carnation-colored ribbon. "But, I thought, Jim, you talked the other night as if you could get any of them you wanted?" "Who says I couldn't, man? Does not the immortal Shakespeare say, 'She is a woman; therefore to be won'? You don't go to doubting Shakespeare at this time of day, I hope?" "Well, then--" "Well, then; you see Hal, we get wiser every day--that is, I do--and it begins to be borne in on my mind that these rich girls won't pay, if you could get them. The game isn't worth the candle." "But there is real thought and feeling and cultivation among them," said I, taking up the gauntlet with energy. "So there is real juice in hot-house grapes; but if I should have a present of a hot-house to-morrow, what should I have to run it with? These girls have the education of royal princesses, and all the habits and wants of them; and what could a fellow do with them if he got them? We haven't any Parliament to vote dowries to keep them up on. I declare, I wish you had heard those girls the other night go on about that engagement, and what they expected when their time comes. Do you know the steps of getting engaged?" "I cannot say I have that happiness," said I.