been talking of, for the very reason, that they were themselves so
simple. It was our sophistication which enabled us to taste
pleasures which would have been insipidities to them. Their palates
would have demanded other flavours--social excitements, balls,
flirtations, almost escapades. I speak of the two women; the man,
doubtless, like most other Americans of his age, wanted nothing but
to get back to business in the small town where he was important;
and still more I speak of the young girl; for the young wife I
fancied very willing to go back to her house-keeping, and to be
staying on in Saratoga only on her friend's account.



CHAPTER II



I had already made up my mind that they had been the closest
friends before one of them married, and that the young wife still
thought the young girl worthy of the most splendid fate that
marriage could have in store for any of her sex. Women often make
each other the idols of such worship; but I could not have justified
this lady's adoration so far as it concerned the mental and moral
qualities of her friend, though I fully shared it in regard to her
beauty. To me she looked a little dull and a little selfish, and I
chose to think the husband modestly found her selfish, if he were
too modest to find her dull.

Yet, after all, I tacitly argued with him, why should we call her
selfish? It was perfectly right and fit that, as a young girl with