"Yes, a savage; I hate the sex—I distrust them!" continued Mr. Jinks, in a gloomy tone; "before seeing you, I had made up my mind to retire forever from the sight of mankind, and live on roots, or something of that description. But you have changed me—you have made me human."
And Mr. Jinks, to judge from his tone of voice, was looking dignified.
The fair lady uttered a little laugh.
"There it is!" cried Mr. Jinks, "you are always happy—always smiling and seducing—you are the paragon of your sex. If it will be any satisfaction to you, Madam, I will immediately die for you, and give up the ghost."
Which Mr. Jinks seemed to consider wholly different from the former.
"Heigho!" said the lady, "you are very devoted, sir."
"I should be, Madam."
"I am not worthy of so much praise."
"You are the pearl of your sex, Madam."
"Oh, no! I am only a simple young girl—but twenty-five last
January—and I have no pretensions in comparison with many others.
Immured in this quiet retreat, with a small property, and engaged in
the opprobrious occupation of cultivating the youthful mind—"