“She gave me the tips of her fingers to kiss,” said Mr. Morris, laughing, “gazing over my head the while and smiling at this young gentleman, on whom she lavished every attention, though she had never a word for me!” and he sighed in mock distress and looked affectionately at Mr. Calvert.  He had become very fond of the young gentleman in the few weeks they had been together in Paris, and was always anxious to introduce him to his acquaintances, of whom he already had an astonishing number.  Mr. Jefferson, being busily occupied with public matters, insisted on Mr. Calvert’s accepting Mr. Morris’s good offices and, with his invariable kindness and thoughtfulness, made it appear, indeed, that the young gentleman was aiding him by thus assuming some of his social duties.  He was secretly much gratified and pleased by the accounts which Mr. Morris gave of his successes.

“Why, ’tis almost indecent the way the women spoil him,” that gentleman declared, laughingly, to Mr. Jefferson as they sat alone over their wine one evening after dinner at the Legation, Calvert having retired to finish the copying of some important letters to be despatched to Mr. Short, who was at Amsterdam.  “Elles s’en raffolent, but Ned, incredible as it may seem, is far from being grateful for such a doubtful blessing!  His stoical indifference and unvarying courtesy to the fair sex are genuine and sublime and pique the women incredibly.  Indeed, ’tis almost more than I can stand without laughing,” went on Mr. Morris, “to see the manly forbearance with which he treats the advances of some of these grandes dames, who think nothing of taking the initiative in a love-affair.  Tis as rare as it is admirable here in Paris!  Upon my word I thought he would have taken to his heels yesterday when we called on Madame de Flahaut, who, being at her toilet, invited us to her dressing-room!  He left me to stump upstairs alone and receive a good rating from the Countess for not having kept him.  He makes me feel very old and sinful,” went on Mr. Morris, after a pause, and smiling ruefully at Mr. Jefferson on the other side of the table, “and I ought to dislike the boy heartily for it.  But, in faith, I can’t, and am beginning to be as fond of him as you yourself are.”

“And, after all, he ought not to make us feel old,” rejoined Mr. Jefferson, smiling, too.  “For in spite of his youth there is nothing of immaturity in his character.  ’Tis as firm and well-rounded as though he were fifty.”

“I think he calls for a toast,” says Mr. Morris, laughing, and filling up the glasses:  “To an Old Head on Young Shoulders!”