Page:Elizabeth's Pretenders.djvu/160

Rh see. At present, of course she does not know how to look at nature. She is all wrong; and I fancy she is obstinate."

"She would not be so original as she is if she adopted readily other people's views. She has a strong character."

"She is full of English prejudice. That is not very original."

"Why do you say so?"

"Can't you see what she thinks of Americans? It constantly crops up, though she tries to conceal it."

"She is very young, and I believe we are the first Americans she has ever known."

"But she has that insularity which puts her out of touch with anything that is not English. She is as proud as she can be. She tolerates us because—because you were kind to her, and I can be of use to her, and she is not ungrateful; but, all through it, one sees that she has an immense idea of her own importance—her own superiority."

"You are quite wrong. I never knew you so wrong in your judgment of any one's character. She has great independence, and a certain pride, I admit; but not at all of the kind you attribute to her."

"Look at her manner to every one at table when she arrived here. It was only to be excused by saying she was English. She is a clever girl—very clever—but her manners are often detestable. Can't you see that?"

"No, I can't. At first she could not understand these Frenchmen, and was very 'stand-off' with them; but now they get on fairly well—as well as she could ever get on with that class of men. It is your sex in general,