Miss Plumer descends upon it like dew.

Where have you been ?" "At home, in Louisiana." "Ah! yes.

Know ye the land where the cypress and myrtle--I have never been there; but it comes to me here when you come, Miss Plumer." Still the slight persiflage to cover the audacity.
"And so, Mr.Newt, I have the honor of seeing the gentleman of whom I have heard most this winter." "What will not our enemies say of us, Miss Plumer ?" "You have no enemies," replied she, "except, perhaps--no, I'll not mention them." "Who?
who?
I insist," said Abel, looking at Grace Plumer earnestly for a moment, then dropping his eyes upon her very pretty and very be-ringed white hands, where the eyes lingered a little and worshipped in the most evident manner.
"Except, then, your own sex," said the little Louisianian, half blushing.
"I do them no harm," replied Abel.
"No; but you make them jealous." "Jealous of what ?" returned the young man, in a lower tone, and more seriously.
"Oh! it's only of--of--of--of what I hear from the girls," said Grace, fluttering a little, as she remembered the conservatory at Mrs.Boniface Newt's, which also Abel had not forgotten.
"And what do you hear, Miss Grace ?" he asked, in pure music.
Grace blushed, and laughed.
"Oh! only of your success with poor, feeble women," said she.
"I have no success with women," returned Abel Newt, in a half-serious way, and in his most melodious voice.

"Women are naturally generous.

They appreciate and acknowledge an honest admiration, even when it is only honest." "Only honest! What more could it be, Mr.Newt ?" "It might be eloquent.