"Full thirty times hath Phoebus' cart gone round Neptune's salt wash and Tellus' orbed ground, And thirty dozen moons, with borrow'd sheen, About the world have times twelve thirties been, Since Love our hearts and Hymen did our hands Unite commutual in most sacred bands." My neighbour and I looked up and exchanged glances as they went by. We both laughed. "At least you will allow," said she, "that this is one of the cases in which a married lady may indulge her passion for the dance without danger of consequences?" "I am not quite sure of that," replied I. "If she be not found guilty of sin, she will scarcely obtain a verdict that shall acquit her of folly. But what can induce that magnificent personage, who looks down upon her as if engaged in measuring the distance between them--what could induce him to request the honour of enclosing her venerable waist in his arm?" "Nothing more easily explained. That little fair girl sitting in yonder corner, with her hair so tightly drawn off her forehead, is her daughter--her only daughter, and will have a noble _dot_. Now you understand it?... And tell me, in case his speculation should not succeed, is it not better that this excellent lady, who waltzes so very like a duck, should receive all the eloquence with which he will seek to render himself amiable, upon her time-steeled heart, than that the delicate little girl herself should have to listen to it?" "And you really would recommend us to adopt this mode of love-making by deputy, letting the mamma be the substitute, till the young lady has obtained a brevet to listen to the language of love in her own person? However excellent the scheme may be, dear lady, it is vain to hope that we shall ever be able to introduce it among us. The young ladies, I suspect, would exclaim, as you do here, when explaining why you cannot permit any English innovations among you, "Ce n'est pas dans nos moeurs." * * * * * I assure you, my friend, that I have not composed this conversation _à loisir_ for your amusement, for I have set down as nearly as possible what was said to me, though I have not quite given it all to you; but my letter is already long enough. LETTER XXXVI. Improvements of Paris.--Introduction of Carpets and Trottoirs.--Maisonnettes.--Not likely to answer in Paris.--The necessity of a Porter and Porter's Lodge.--Comparative Expenses of France and England.--Increasing Wealth of the Bourgeoisie.