'Are you not engaged to marry Lady Mabel Grex?'
'No.'
'Then I beg your pardon. I was told that you were engaged to her.
And I thought your choice was so fortunate, so happy! I have seen
no girl here that I admire half so much. She almost comes up to my
idea of what a young woman should be.'
'Almost!'
'Now I am sure that if you are not engaged to her you must be in
love with her, or my praise would have sufficed.'
'Though one knows a Lady Mabel Grex, one may become acquainted
with a Miss Boncassen.'
There are moments in which stupid people say clever things, obtuse
people say sharp things, and good-natured people say ill-natured
things. 'Lord Silverbridge,' she said, 'I did not expect that from
you.'
'Expect what? I meant it simply.'
'I have no doubt you meant it simply. We Americans think ourselves
sharp, but I have long since found out that we may meet more than
our matches here. I think we will go back. Mother means to try to
get up a quadrille.'
'You will dance with me?'
'I think not. I have been walking with you, and I had better dance
with someone else.
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