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these people for upwards of thirty-five years, and I dont hesitate to say that Ive acquired considerable information. Its a very fine country on the wholefiner perhaps than what we give it credit for on the other side. There are several improvements I should like to see introduced; but the necessity of them doesnt seem to be generally felt as yet. When the necessity of a thing is generally felt they usually manage to accomplish it; but they seem to feel pretty comfortable about waiting till then. I certainly feel more at home among them than I expected to when I first came over; I suppose its because Ive had a considerable degree of success. When youre successful you naturally feel more at home. Do you suppose that if Im successful I shall feel at home? Isabel asked. I should think it very probable, and you certainly will be successful. They like American young ladies very much over here; they show them a great deal of kindness. But you mustnt feel too much at home, you know. Oh, Im by no means sure it will satisfy me, Isabel judicially emphasized. I like the place very much, but Im not sure I shall like the people. The people are very good people; especially if you like them. Ive no doubt theyre good, Isabel rejoined; but are they pleasant in society? They wont rob me nor beat me; but will they make themselves agreeable to me? Thats what I like people to do. I dont hesitate to say so, because I always appreciate it. I dont believe theyre very nice to girls; theyre not nice to them in the novels.1 I dont know about the novels, said Mr Touchett. I believe the novels have a great deal of ability, but I dont suppose theyre very accurate. We once had a lady who wrote novels staying here; she was a friend of Ralphs and he asked her down. She was very positive, quite up to everything; but she was not the sort of person you could depend on for evidence. Too free a fancyI suppose that was it. She afterwards published a work of fiction in which she was understood to have given a representationsomething in the nature of a caricature, as you might sayof my unworthy self. I didnt read it, but Ralph just handed me the book with the principal passages marked. It was understood to be a description of my conversation; American peculiarities, nasal twang, Yankee notions, stars and stripes. Well, it was not at all accurate; she couldnt have listened very attentively. I had no objection to her giving a report of my conversation, if she liked; but I didnt like the idea that she hadnt taken the trouble to listen to it. Of course I talk like an AmericanI cant talk like a Hottentot. However I talk, Ive made them understand me pretty well over here. But I dont talk like the old gentleman in that ladys novel. He wasnt an American; we wouldnt have him over there at any price. I just mention that fact to show you that theyre not always accurate. Of course, as Ive no daughters, and as Mrs Touchett resides in Florence, I havent had much chance to notice about the young ladies. It sometimes appears as if the young women in the lower class were not very well treated; but I guess their position is better in the upper and even to some extent in the middle. Gracious, Isabel exclaimed; how many classes have they? About fifty, I suppose. Well, I dont know that I ever counted them. I never took much notice of the classes. Thats the advantage of being an American here; you dont belong to any class. I hope so, said Isabel. Imagine ones belonging to an English class! Well, I guess some of them are pretty comfortableespecially towards the top. But for me there are only two classes: the people I trust and the people I dont. Of those two, my dear Isabel, you belong to the first. Im much obliged to you, said the girl quickly. Her way of taking compliments seemed sometimes rather dry; she got rid of them as rapidly as possible. But as regards this was sometimes misjudged; she was |
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