enting the interruption of the morning。 But Miss Hubbard was only following the code of etiquette； tacitly adopted by the class of young ladies she belonged to； who never scrupled to make their manner to men； much more attentive and flattering than towards one of themselves； or even towards an older person of their own sex。
Elinor； however； had seen such manoeuvres before； and she would scarcely have noticed it at the moment； had it not been for Miss Emmeline's previous apology。
Mrs。 Hilson soon approached her。 〃Has Emmeline been communicating our Longbridge intelligence； Miss Wyllys？ Do you think it a good match？〃
〃I hope it will prove so； we were very glad to hear of it。 Mary Van Horne is a great favourite of my aunt's； and Mr。 Roberts； I hear； is highly spoken of。〃
〃Yes； and he is very rich； too； she has nothing at all herself； I believe。''
〃Do you know whether they are to live in New York？ I hope they will not go very far from us。〃
〃I suppose they will live in the city； as he is so wealthy； Mary will have an opportunity of tasting the fascinations of high life。 I shall introduce her to a clique of great refinement at once。 Don't you think Saratoga the most delightful place in the world； Miss Wyllys？ I am never so happy as when here。 I delight so much in the gay world； it appears to me that I breathe more freely in a crowdsolitude oppresses me； do you like it？〃
〃I have never tried it very long。 If you like a crowd； you must be perfectly satisfied； just now。〃
''And so I am； Miss Wyllys； perfectly happy in these fashionable scenes。 Do you know； it is a fact； that I lose my appetite unless I can sit down to table with at least thirty or forty fashionably dressed people about me； and I never sleep sounder than on board a steamboat； where the floor is covered with mattresses。 I am not made for retirement； certainly。 Ah； Monsieur Bonnet； here you are again； I see； what have you done with the Baron？is not the Baron with you？〃
〃No； Madame； he has not finish his cigar。 And where is Mlle。 Emmeline？I hope she has not abandonne me！〃 said M。 Bonnet； who； to do him justice； was a sufficiently respectable man； a French merchant in New York； and no way connected with the Baron。
〃Oh； no； she is here； we were waiting for the Baron and you to escort us to the drawing…room； but we will remain until the Baron comes。 I have heard something that will put you in good…humour； another of those marriages you admire so muchone of the parties rolling in wealth and luxury； the other poor as Job's turkey。〃
〃Ah； vraiment； that is indeed delightful； cela est fort touchant； that show so much sensibilite； to appreciate le merite； though suffering from poverty。 A marriage like that must be beau comme un reve d'Amour！〃
｛〃vraiment〃 = truly； 〃cela est fort touchant〃 = that is very touching； 〃beau comme un reve d'Amour〃 = as beautiful as a dream of Love （French）｝
〃You are quite romantic on the subject； but don't people make such matches in France？〃
〃Ah； non； Madame； le froid calcul dominates there at such times。 I honour the beautiful practice that is common in votre jeune Amerique； cela rappelle le siecle d'or。 Can there be a tableau more delicieux than a couple unis under such circonstances？ The happy epoux； a young man perhaps； of forty； and la femme a creature angelique；〃 here M。 Bonnet cast a glance at Miss Emmeline； 〃une creature angelique； who knows that he adores her； and who says to him； 'mon ami je t'aime； je veux faire ton bonheur；' and who bestows on him her whole heart； and her whole fortune； while he； of course； oppressed with gratitude； labours only to increase that fortune； that he may have it in his power to make the life of his bien aimee beautiful comme un jour de fete。〃
｛〃froid calcul〃 = cold calculation； 〃votre jeune。。。〃 = your young America； it reminds one of the golden age； 〃tableau more delicieux than a couple unis under such circonstances〃 = a prettier picture than a couple united under such circumstances； 〃epoux〃 = husband。 〃la femme a creature angelique〃 = the wife an angelic creature； 〃mon ami； je t'aime； je veux faire ton bonheur〃 = my friend； I love you； I wish to make you happy； 〃bien aimee beautiful comme un jour de fete〃 = beloved as beautiful as a day of festival （mixed French and English）｝
〃You are eloquent； Mr。 Bonnet。〃
〃N'est ce pas un sujet； Madame； to toucher le coeur de l'homme in a most delicate point； a man who could be insensible to such delicacy； to such aimable tendresse； would be no better than one of your sauvages； one of your Mohicans！〃
｛〃N'est ce pas un sujet； Madame； to toucher le coeur de l'homme。。。〃 = Is this not a subject； Madame； which touches the heart of man。。。； 〃to such aimable tendresse〃 = to such pleasant affection （mixed French and English）｝
〃Well； I don't think so much of it； because it is very common here； such matches happen every day。〃
〃And who are the happy couple you refer to at present？〃
〃'Tis a young gentleman of New York city； Mr。 Roberts； who is going to marry a young lady； whose father is a neighbour of pa's。〃
〃And what is the sum the young lady has bestowed upon her grateful adorateur？〃
〃Oh； the lady has not anything to bestow in this case； it is the gentleman； who is very wealthy； and doing a very handsome business in New York。〃
〃Ah；〃 said M。 Bonnet； taking a pinch of snuff； 〃that is not so interesting I think； as when the mari is the favoured party。 The heart of man is more susceptible of lasting gratitude for un tel bienfait。〃
｛〃mari〃 = husband； 〃un tel bienfait〃 = such a favor （French）｝
〃The gentleman has all the money； this time； I don't think Mary Van Horne will have a cent； do you； Miss Wyllys？〃
But Elinor was gone。 As the Baron appeared； however； Mrs。 Hilson did not regret it。
〃Ah； Baron； I thought you were never coming。 You ought to be much obliged to me； for I had just told Monsieur Bonnet； we must not move till the Baron comes； the Baron will not know where to find us。〃
CHAPTER VII。 ｛XXX｝
〃They sit conferring 。〃 Taming the Shrew。
｛William Shakespeare； 〃The Taming of the Shrew〃； V。ii。102｝
THE usual evening circle had collected in Miss Wyllys's parlour； with the addition of Mary Van Alstyne； who had just arrived from Poughkeepsie； and Mrs。 St。 Leger。 Miss Emma Taylor had gone to a concert with her good…natured brother…in…law； and a couple of her admirers。 Jane and her sister…in…law； Adeline； were sitting together in a corner； talking partly about their babies； partly about what these two young matrons called 〃old times；〃 that is to say； events which had transpired as far back as three or four years previously。 To them； however； those were 〃old times；〃 for； since then； the hopes and fears； cares and pleasures； of the two friends were much changed。
Among the rest of the party the conversation became more general； for Elinor had just finished a song； and Mr。 Wyllys had just beaten Mrs。 Creighton at a game of chess。
〃Mr。 Hazlehurst； pray what have you done with my saya y manto？〃 asked the pretty widow； taking a seat at the side of Elinor； on a sofa。 〃Here have you been； three； four； five days； and I have not even alluded to it； which； you must observe is a great act of forbearance in a lady； when there is a piece of finery in question。〃
｛〃saya y manto〃 = skirt and cloak （Spanish）｝
〃I am really ashamed of myself for not having reported it safe at Philadelphia； before。 I would not send it to your house； when I heard you were here； for I wished to deliver it in person； and I did not bring it with me； because Mrs。 Hazlehurst told me it was too warm for a fashionable lady to wear anything as heavy as black silk for the next three months。〃
〃Well； of course I am very much obliged to you for the trouble you have had with it； but I shall defer thanking you formally； until I find out whether it is becoming or not。〃
〃Do you expect to make a very captivating Spaniard？〃 asked Mr。 Stryker。
〃I shall do my best； certainly； but I shall leave you to decide how far I succeed； Mr。 Stryker。 Are the Brazilian women pretty； Mr。 Hazlehurst？what do they look like？〃
〃Very like Portuguese；〃 was the answer。
〃More than the Americans look like the English？〃 inquired Elinor。
〃Far more；〃 said Harry； 〃but you know there is less difference between the climates of Brazil and Portugal； than between ours and that of England。〃
〃For my part；〃 observed Mr。 Ellsworth； 〃I do not think we look in the least like the Englishneither men nor women。 We are getting very fast to have a decided physiognomy of our own。 I think I could pick out an American from among a crowd of Europeans； almost as soon as I could a Turk。〃
〃You always piqued yourself； Ellsworth； upon having a quick eye for national characteristics。 We used to try him very often； when we were in Europe； Mrs。 Creighton； and I must do him the justice to say he seldom failed。〃
〃Oh； yes； I know all Frank's opinions on the subject；〃 replied Mrs。 Creighton： 〃it is quite a hobby with him。〃
〃What do you think are the physical characteristics of the Americans； as compared with our English kinsmen？〃 inquired Mr。 Wyllys。
〃We are a darker； a thinner； and a paler people。 The best specimens of the English have the advantage in manliness of form and carriage； the American is superior in activity； in the expression of intelligence and energy in the countenance。 The English peculiarities in their worst shape are； coarseness and heaviness of form； a brutal； dull countenance； the worst peculiarities among the Americans are； an apparent want of substance in the form； and a cold； cunning expression of features。 I used often to wonder； when travelling in Europe； particularly in France and Germany； at the number of heavy forms and coarse features； which strike one so often there； even among the women； and which are so very uncommon in America。〃
〃Yes； that brutal coarseness of features； which stood for the model of the old Satyrs； is scarcely to be met in this country； though by no means uncommon in many parts of Europe；〃 observed Hazlehurst。
〃I was very much struck the other evening； at the dance； with the appearance of the women；〃 continued Mr。 Ellsworth。 〃Not that they are so brilliant in their beautyone sees beautiful women in every country； but they are so pec