"La! no. I had the sense to conceal my talents. Take my word for it, superior people as a class are never liked, unless they do as I did—conceal it, conceal it."
"I am glad I was not born talented: I fear I could not succeed in hiding it as you do." Mrs. F. was too stupid for sarcasm, else I should have thought—
"Now be frank with me, Sarah," broke in Mrs. Stunner, scattering my thoughts: "who is paying attention to Eva now?"
"Well," replied the other, appearing to recollect, "there is Mr. Rich: he asked her to ride with him."
"More than once?"
"No, not more, but it was only day before yesterday."
"Ah! he may ask her again: once means nothing. A gentleman may ask her for pastime, or to make some one else jealous, or out of good-nature, but to a girl properly brought up once is a chance—it is a good start." (Mrs. S.'s late husband was fond of racing.) "It rests entirely with her to make the once twice, the twice thrice, and so on; for if she is amusing and don't talk love, he will be sure to ask her again."
"'Don't talk love'? Why, Jane, you surprise me! I thought that was the proper thing to do."
"Just where people mistake. The most stupid man can talk love if he feels love. Let girls be agreeable, sweet and charming, but without especial effort to appear so, and when gentlemen are captivated they will do their own love-making."
"Dear me!" was the reply.