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274 much longer. I like New York—that is impression No. 1—don't you?"

"I love New York," he said fervently.

"Like the actors and actresses who are interviewed in the newspapers. They all of them seem to love America before they have seen it. I suppose they hope to go home with lots of dollars in their pockets, and want to impress the Americans favorably by liking their country. Don't you think that is a fact, dear?"

I waited for a reply as anxiously as if the question had been one of vital importance.

"Very probably," was the absent rejoinder.

I took up a book and tried to settle down to reading. The letters danced before my eyes, and I flung the book aside with a laugh. I unfolded Arthur’s newspaper and gazed stupidly at the advertisements. A dentist offered to extract teeth free of charge, if only the extractee would consent to wear the false article. He had for sale "elegant full gum sets," "gold combination sets," and "platina lined, porcelain enamelled sets." Of course they were all fearfully cheap. I noted that Mr. John Smith had a two-year-old