A Young Lady’s Conversation
Enter Pretty Poll.
“How do you do? I was just going into the garden when papa said you were here; and, of course, it doesn’t do to keep company, it’s so rude. I’m sixteen to-day, and have just left school, and everybody says I’ve made such rapid progress as regards my education. Do you know they all say I’ve grown so tall lately? Well, I wouldn’t have any objections to that if it wasn’t for one reason, and that is—Well, I hardly like to tell you the reason, either; but I have a young man, and his name’s Julius, and he’s so awfully short himself his head hardly comes above my shoulder; but then, you know, half a loaf’s better than no bread, and a short young man’s better than none at all. Talking of Julius, I will tell you something. The other evening we were strolling up-town together, and Julius is awfully generous—he’d give me anything. Said he to me, ‘Adelina, supposing I was to offer you a present, would you accept one?’ Says I, ‘Oh, certainly!’ Accordingly we went into a store together, and while we were looking at the things, what should the young man do who stood behind the counter, but he came all the way round, took Julius by the shoulder. ‘There,’ says he, ‘leave the things alone, and let your mamma pick what she likes.’ Oh! I was awfully confused, and poor Julius, he didn’t know which way to look. But when I got my present, what do you think that was? Oh, such a splendid pair of new shoes! But when I got home I found the young shopman had made such a foolish mistake—he’d wrapped up eights, and everybody knows I only take twos.”