"'Miss ——, what is your definition of true politeness?'
"'Perfect ease,' she replied.
"'I have the honor to agree with you, madam, and, with your entire permission, will take leave to assume the correctness of this position!' As he spoke, with a dextrous movement, the statesman disposed a large cushion near Miss ——'s end of the sofa, and simultaneously, down went his head upon the cushion, and up went his heels at the other extreme of the sofa! But, my dear fellow, we are losing your adventures at the great wedding party, all this time"——
"Very true, my dear," added Mrs. K——, wiping her eyes, "you fell in love with Mr. V——, you know"—
"Oh, yes," returned my host, "I did, indeed; but I had no adventures, in particular. V—— was one of the aids-de-camp, on the occasion, as I knew by the white love-knot (what is the fashionable name, wife?) he wore on his breast. He was in the hall when I came down stairs, to act in his office of groomsman. Upon seeing me, he advanced, and asked whether he could be of any service to me. I explained, while I drew on my gloves, that I did not know the bride, and feared that even her mother might have forgotten an early friend. His young eyes found the button of my glove quicker than mine, and as he released my hand, he said, showing a sad rent in his own, "you are fortunate in not having split them, sir,—but you gentlemen of the old school," he added with a respectful bow, "always surpass us youngsters in matters of dress, as well as everything else." As he said this, the young rogue glanced politely over my plain black suit, and offered me his arm as deferentially as though I had been an Ex-President, at least; and so on, throughout the evening, with apparent unconsciousness of self. I should have thought him wholly devoted to my enjoyment of everything and everybody, had I not observed that others, equally, or more, in need of his attention than I, shared his courtesy—from an elderly lady in a huge church-tower of a cap, who seemed fearfully exercised less she should not secure her full share of the wedding-cake boxes, to one of the little sisters of the bride, who clung to her dress and sobbed as if her heart must break—all seemed to like him and depend on him."
"I have not the pleasure of Mr. V——'s acquaintance," said I, "but I prophesy that he will succeed in life!"
"Yes, and make friends at every step!" responded Mrs. K——, warmly. "After we parted this morning, I had an agreeable sort of half-consciousness that something pleasant had happened to me, and when I analised the feeling, Wordsworth's lines seemed to have been impersonated to me:—
'A face with gladness overspread!
Soft smiles, by human kindness bred!
And seemliness complete, that sways
Thy courtesies, about thee plays!'"