Miss Mac. Never! I always expressed my antipathy to the male sex so openly, that no man ever ventured a tête-à-tête with me; if one dared to whisper nonsense in my ear, I used to turn and petrify him at once with a look——

Miss Mea. Like the Gorgon’s head on the shield of Minerva—your face turned every approaching lover to stone!

Miss Mac. Though I have often wished that a man would have the temerity to make me a sincere proposal.

Miss Mea. What would you do, aunt?

Miss Mac. Accept it at once!

Miss Mea. You would?

Miss Mac. Because, in being a wife, I should have it in my power to make one of the sex utterly miserable! Oh, if I had a husband, how I would torment the creature!

Miss Mea. Surely there must be some male person that you do not entirely dislike—Mr. Chester, for instance?

Miss Mac. I am grateful to Mr. Chester for saving me from the attack of a ferocious bull when we were walking in the meadows six months ago; but beyond that simple feeling of gratitude, there is nothing in common between us.