eposefidenher.But,asIwassaying:sittinginthatwindow-seat,doyouthinkofnothingbutyourfutureschool?Haveyouiinanyofthepanywhooccupythesofasandchairsbeforeyou?Istherenotonefaceyoustudy?onefigurewhosemovementsyoufollowwithatleastcuriosity?”

    “Iliketoobserveallthefadallthefigures.”

    “Butdoyouneversingleonefromtherest—oritmaybe,two?”

    “Idofrequently;wheuresorlooksofapairseemtellingatale:itamusesmetowatchthem.”

    “Whattaledoyoulikebesttohear?”

    “Oh,Ihavenotmuchchoice!Theygenerallyrunonthesametheme—courtship;andpromisetoendinthesamecatastrophe—marriage.”

    “Anddoyoulikethatmonotonoustheme?”

    “Positively,Idon’tcareaboutit:itisnothingtome.”

    “Nothingtoyou?Whenalady,youngandfulloflifeah,charmingwithbeautyandehthegiftsofrankandfortusandsmilesintheeyesofagentlemanyou—”

    “Iwhat?”

    “Youknoerhapsthinkwellof.”

    “Idon’tknowthegentlemenhere.Ihavescarcelyintergedasyllablewithohem;andastothinkingwellofthem,Isidersomerespectable,andstately,andmiddle-aged,andothersyoung,dashing,handsome,andlively:butcertainlytheyareallatlibertytobetherecipientsofwhosesmilestheyplease,withoutmyfeelingdisposedtosiderthetransaofanymomenttome.”

    “Youdon’tknowthegentlemenhere?Youhavenotexgedasyllablewithohem?Willyousaythatofthemasterofthehouse!”

    “Heisnotathome.”

    “Aprofoundremark!Amostingeniousquibble!HewenttoMillcotethism,andwillbebackhereto-nightorto-morrow:doesthatcircumstanceexcludehimfromthelistofyouracquaintance—blothim,asitwere,outofe