And you have all personal gifts;--youth and spirits--
Well, I will not go on and name the others. You are, no doubt,
supposed to be entitled to the best and sweetest of God's feminine
creatures.'
'You are she.'
'Whether you be entitled to me or not I cannot yet say. Now I will
tell you something of myself. My father's father came to New York
as a labourer from Holland, and worked upon the quays in that
city. Then he built houses, and became rich, and was almost a
miser;--with the good sense, however, to educate his only son. What
my father is you see. To me he is sterling gold, but he is not
like your people. My dear mother is not at all like your ladies.
She is not a lady in your sense,--though with her unselfish
devotion to others she is something infinitely better. For myself
I am,--well, meaning to speak honestly, I will call myself pretty
and smart. I think I know how to be true.'
'I am sure you do.'
'But what right have you to suppose I shall know how to be a
Duchess?'
'I am sure you will.'
'Now listen to me. Go to your friends and ask them.
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