Amy. Did she tell you that insomnia is thought to make one very distinguished there?
Lord F. (making note in book). Er, thanks, awfully. (Reading.) “She says that the Baltimore girls are great beauties, and marry so quickly that there is generally a scarcity. It is proposed to start a joint stock company to colonise that city with the surplus from Boston, and she thinks there ought to be lots of money in it! Another extreme case of American dollar worship! The Western girls, she told me, are all blizzards.” (Speaking.) I don’t think I could have mistaken the word, for I made her spell it. Yet the American dictionary defines blizzard as a great wind or snow storm.
George. That is it, Lord Ferrol. They talk so much that it gives the effect of a wind storm.
Lord F. Ah! much obliged. (Reading.) “Went to eight receptions in one afternoon, where I was introduced to a lot of people, and talked to nobody. Dined out somewhere, but can’t remember the name. Took in a Miss ——, a most charming and lovely—”
Dennis (interrupting). Ah, there!
Lord F. I beg pardon.
Rose. You must forgive his rude interruption, Lord Ferrol.
Lord F. Oh, certainly! You’re sure you’re not bored?
Omnes. By no means. Do go on.
Lord F. “A most charming and lovely girl from New York. She thinks Miss —— characterised the cities rightly, except her own. Asked me if I thought she was only a dressmaking advertisement? As scarcely any of her dress was to be seen, I replied that as I couldn’t look below the table, I was sure it was the last thing one would accuse her of being. She blushed so violently that I had to tell her that I had seen much worse dresses in London; but that didn’t please her any better, and she talked to the man next her for the rest of the evening. (All have difficulty in suppressing their laughter.) I met a Boston girl afterwards who—”