Two young girls of my acquaintance, both aged about sixteen, were speaking of the books they had lately read. One mentioned that she had just finished 'Strathmore,' by Ouida, and that her mother thought it was quite the sort of novel a young girl could read.
'And what have you read?' she added.
'Last week I read 'L'Ami Fritz,' by Erckmann-Chatrian,' replied the other girl.
Now, this little idyll is about as proper and moral as the top lines of school copy-books.
'Oh!' said the first young girl, 'does your mother allow you to read French novels? Mine never does.'
Truly a strange being, the British matron!
CHAPTER XXIII
THE AMERICAN WOMAN—I
A new coat-of-arms for America — The American woman — Her ways — The liberty she enjoys — 'Oh, please make me an American woman!'