Page:The Semi-detached House.djvu/235

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THE SEMI-DETACHED HOUSE.
227

you are dressed for conquest. In my life I never saw such beautiful lace, what is it—Spanish?"

"I'm sure I don't know," said Mrs. Hopkinson, as soon as she could recover from the risible notion of her own coquetry. "It came from Funchal, though where that is I can't say; John gave it to me just before I came out."

"There never was such a John! and he is so agreeable too. I cannot think how you have the heart to go about flirting with other people's Arthurs, when you have such a John of your own. Aunt Sarah, I have been so interested at dinner, it is really refreshing to hear conversation about facts, not about people. Captain Hopkinson told us such curious stories about China, and the nuns at Manilla, and their beautiful work; and a great deal about opium and cotton that was too learned for me, but Lord Chesterton was so much interested in that, and in tariffs and custom duties, that I could not give the conversation a frivolous turn; and besides, I