Here the talk ended by Mabel promising to visit Kitty ere many days were over.
“I should not have expected to meet such a fine-looking, well-mannered girl in a place like this,” spoke Miss Gibbon, when she and Harry were out of Mabel’s hearing.
“In America pretty girls are as plenty as blackberries,” answered Harry.
“Well, we certainly carry off the palm in Europe,” added Kitty. “But this young woman is a peasant.”
“A farmer’s daughter,” said Harry.
“Oh! we should call her a peasant in France, Harry dear. And I have some misgivings as to what mother will say when she hears that I have invited Mabel to visit me at the hotel.”
“Well, she is dark-complexioned, and I’ll swear she is an Italian baroness,” returned Harry, laughing.
“Oh! yes, do. A capital joke! Why, we know ever so many baronesses abroad. Ma has a large circle of noble acquaintances.”
“Really!”
“Yes. And I know three American girls married to counts. But there was no love between them during the courtship—not a spark—’twas all pure business from beginning to end, and I am told the young ladies are now very unhappy.”