4/40 Every generation does exactly the same beautiful, foolish things as its forerunner. As he approached the table, I said with a smile:-- "You're only copying your great-great-grandfather." "In what way, sir ?" he asked, resuming his place. "He watched the disappearing skirt of your great-great-grandmother." "She was doubtless a very venerable old lady," said he, flushing and helping himself to wine. "I never knew her, but she wasn't a patch on Betty!" "But," said I, "when your great-great-grandfather opened the door for her to pass out, she wasn't venerable at all, but gloriously young." "I suppose he was satisfied, poor old chap." He took a sip. "But those days did not produce Betty Fairfaxes." He laughed. |