"And, do you know, she is forever making covert sneers at my youth; and it's perfectly exasperating to me." "Sour grapes," laughed Ella.

"I wouldn't let it vex me in the least: it's all to hide her envy of you, because you are really young, and married too.

I know very well she's dreadfully afraid of being called an old maid." "I suspected as much," Zoe remarked.

"But don't you think gentlemen are more apt to be pleased with her than ladies ?" "Yes: they don't see through her as her own sex do.

And she is handsome, and certainly a brilliant talker.