'It was a very humorous incident certainly,' said his friend Neigh, at
which there was a laugh--not from anything connected with what he said,
but simply because it was the right thing to laugh when Neigh meant you
to do so.

'Now don't, Neigh--you are too hard upon me. But, seriously, two or
three fellows were there when I said it, and they all began laughing--but,
then, the Colonel said it in such a queer way, you know. But you were
asking me about her? Well, the fact is, between ourselves, I do know
that she is a lady; and I don't mind telling a word--'

'But we would not for the world be the means of making you betray her
confidence--would we, Jones?'

'No, indeed; we would not.'

'No, no; it is not that at all--this is really too bad!--you must listen
just for a moment--'

'Ladywell, don't betray anybody on our account.'

'Whoever the illustrious young lady may be she has seen a great deal of
the world,' said Mr. Doncastle blandly, 'and puts her experience of the
comedy of its emotions, and of its method of showing them, in a very
vivid light.'

'I heard a man say that the novelty with which the ideas are presented is
more noticeable than the originality of the ideas themselves,' observed
Neigh. 'The woman has made a great talk about herself; and I am quite