classing the great mass of the public very much beneath you in intellect
and other qualities, and you forget that persons whom you may perhaps
dislike, have feelings which you have no right to ignore."

"I presume you refer to this morning," said Miss Sommerton, seriously.
"I apologised for that two or three times, I think. I have always
understood that a gentleman regards an apology from another gentleman as
blotting out the original offence. Why should he not regard it in the
same light when it comes from a woman?"

"Oh, now you are making a personal matter of it. I am talking in an
entirely impersonal sense. I am merely giving you, with brutal rudeness,
opinions formed on a very short acquaintance. Remember, I have done so
at your own request."

"I am very much obliged to you, I am sure. I think you are more than
half right. I hope the list is not much longer."

"No, the list ends there. I suppose you imagine that I am one of the
rudest men you ever met?"

"No, we generally expect rudeness from Englishmen."

"Oh, do you really? Then I am only keeping up the reputation my
countrymen have already acquired in America. Have you had the
pleasure of meeting a rude Englishman before?"

"No, I can't say that I have. Most Englishmen I have met have been what
we call very gentlemanly indeed. But the rudest letter I ever received
was from an Englishman; not only rude, but ungrateful, for I had bought