'
'I have imputed no evil, Lord Silverbridge, and you have no right
to say so.'
'If you mean to assert,' said Miss Cass, 'that the manners of
American young ladies are freer than those of English young
ladies, it is you that are taking away their characters.'
'I don't say it would be at all bad,' continued Lady Mabel. 'She
is a beautiful girl, and very clever, and would make a charming
Duchess. And then it would be such a delicious change to have an
American Duchess.'
'She wouldn't be a Duchess.'
'Well, Countess, with Duchessship before her in the remote future.
Wouldn't it be a change, Miss Cass?'
'Oh decidedly!' said Miss Cass.
'And very much for the better. Quite a case of new blood, you
know. Pray don't suppose that I mean to object. Everybody who
talks about it approves. I haven't heard a single dissentient
voice. Only as it has gone so far, and English people are too
stupid you know to understand all these new ways,--don't you think
perhaps--?'
'No, I don't think. I don't think anything except that you are
very ill-natured.
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