Indeed, I gathered from your remark to a friend that her society was distinctly distasteful to you.' "'To Smith,' he corrected me.

'What judge would that howling little blackguard be of a woman's worth! The dislike of such a man as that is a testimonial to her merit!' "'I may be mistaken,' I said; 'but she struck me as a bit common.' "'She is not, perhaps, what the world would call a lady,' he admitted; 'but then, my dear Mac, my opinion of the world is not such as to render _its_ opinion of much value to me.

I and the world differ on most subjects, I am glad to say.

She is beautiful, and she is good, and she is my choice.' "'She's a jolly enough little girl,' I replied, 'and, I should say, affectionate; but have you considered, Smythe, whether she is quite--what shall we say--quite as intellectual as could be desired ?' "'Really, to tell the truth, I have not troubled myself much about her intellect,' he replied, with one of his sneering smiles.

'I have no doubt that the amount of intellect absolutely necessary to the formation of a British home, I shall be able to supply myself.