Really criticism has become an absurdity! Did you look at the "Sentinel" ?' Mrs.Burgoyne hesitated.
'Yes--I saw there was something about the style--' 'The style!'-- Mr.Bellasis threw himself back in his chair and laughed loud--'Why the style is done with a magnifying-glass!--There's not a phrase,--not a word that I don't stand by.' 'Mr.Bellasis'-- said the courteous voice of the ambassador--'are you going by this train ?' The great man held out his watch.
'Yes indeed--and I must catch it!' cried the man of letters.

He started to his feet, and bending over Mrs.Burgoyne, he said in an aside perfectly audible to all the world--'I read my new play to-night--just finished--at Madame Salvi's!' Eleanor smiled and congratulated him.

He took his leave, and Manisty in an embarrassed silence accompanied him half way down the avenue.
Then returning, he threw himself into a chair near Lucy Foster and young Brooklyn, with a sigh of relief.
'Intolerable ass!'-- he said under his breath, as though quite unconscious of any bystander.
The young man looked at Lucy with eyes that danced.
* * * * * 'Who is your young lady ?' said the ambassador.
Miss Manisty explained.
'An American?
Really?
I was quite off the scent.

But now--I see--I see! Let me guess.

She is a New Englander--not from Boston, but from the country.