‘Undoubtedly,’ said Mr Glascock, ’the family of a minister abroad has great advantages in seeing the country to which he is accredited.’

’That is my meaning, sir.  But, as I was remarking, we carry with us as a people no external symbols of our standing at home.  The wives and daughters, sir, of the most honoured of our citizens have no nomenclature different than that which belongs to the least noted among us.  It is perhaps a consequence of this that Europeans who are accustomed in their social intercourse to the assistance of titles, will not always trouble themselves to inquire who and what are the American citizens who may sit opposite to them at table.  I have known, Mr Glascock, the wife and daughter of a gentleman who has been thrice sent as senator from his native State to Washington, to remain as disregarded in the intercourse of a European city, as though they had formed part of the family of some grocer from your Russell Square!’

‘Let the Miss Spaldings go where they will,’ said Mr Glascock, ’they will not fare in that way.’

‘The Miss Spaldings, sir, are very much obliged to you,’ said the minister with a bow.

’I regard it as one of the luckiest chances of my life that I was thrown in with them at St Michael as I was,’ said Mr Glascock with something like warmth.

’I am sure, sir, they will never forget the courtesy displayed by you on that occasion,’ said the minister bowing again.

’That was a matter of course.  I and my friend would have done the same for the grocer’s wife and daughter of whom you spoke.  Little services such as that do not come from appreciation of merit, but are simply the payment of the debt due by all men to all women.’

‘Such is certainly the rule of living in our country, sir,’ said Mr Spalding.

‘The chances are,’ continued the Englishman, ’that no further observation follows the payment of such a debt.  It has been a thing of course.’

‘We delight to think it so, Mr Glascock, in our own cities.’

’But in this instance it has given rise to one of the pleasantest, and as I hope most enduring friendships that I have ever formed,’ said Mr Glascock with enthusiasm.  What could the American Minister do but bow again three times?  And what other meaning could he attach to such words than that which so many of his friends had been attributing to Mr Glascock for some weeks past?  It had occurred to Mr Spalding, even since he had been sitting in his present close proximity to Mr Glascock, that it might possibly be his duty as an uncle having to deal with an Englishman, to ask that gentleman what were his intentions.  He would do his duty let it be what it might; but the asking of such a question would be very disagreeable to him.  For the present he satisfied himself with inviting his neighbour to come and drink tea with Mrs Spalding on the next evening but one.  ’The girls will be delighted, I am sure,’