" And yet I can't pretend I said it in jest. I feel it
too much. We have been having a little social dis-
cussion," she said to her daughter. " There is still
so much to be said! And I wish," she continued,
turning to me, " that I could give you our point of
view ! Don't you wish, Aurora, that we could give
him our point of view ? "

"Yes, mamma," said Aurora.
"We consider ourselves very fortunate in our point
of view, don't we, dearest ? " mamma demanded.
" Very fortunate indeed, mamma."

" You see we have acquired an insight into Euro-
pean life," the elder lady pursued. " We have our
place at many a European fireside. We find so
much to esteem, — so much to enjoy. Do we not,
my daughter ? "

" So very much, mamma," the young girl went on,
with a sort of inscrutable submissiveness. I won-
dered at it, it offered so strange a contrast to the
mocking freedom of her tone the night before ; but
while I wondered, I was careful not to let my per-
plexity take precedence of my good manners.
