But he selected two for his peculiar notice,--and
those two were Miss Boncassen and Lady Mabel. While he would
himself walk, and talk, and argue after his own particular fashion
with the American beauty,--explaining to her matters political and
social, till he persuaded her to promise to read his pamphlet upon
decimal coinage,--he was always making efforts to throw
Silverbridge and Lady Mabel together. The two girls saw it and
knew how the matter was,--knew that they were rivals, and knew each
the ground on which she herself and on which the other stood. But
neither was satisfied with her advantage, or nearly satisfied.
Isabel would not take the prize without the Duke's consent;---and
Mabel could not have it without that other consent. 'If you want
to marry an English Duke,' she once said to Isabel in that anger
which she was unable to restrain, 'there is the Duke himself. I
never saw a man so absolutely in love.' 'But I do not want to
marry an English Duke,' said Isabel, 'and I pity any girl who has
any idea of marriage except that which comes from a wish to give
back love for love.
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