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Mrs.
Henderson's would call their 'ulterior intentions,' for the night; some
attired in the simplest manner, others dressed for concerts, for the opera,
for court even; some on the way from a dinner, and others going to a
late ball. All this matter of course variety, adds to the case and grace of
the company, and coupled with perfect good manners, a certain
knowledge of passing events, pretty modes of expression, an accurate
and even utterance, the women usually find the means of making
themselves agreeable. Their sentiment is sometimes a little heroic, but
this one must overlook, and it is a taste, moreover, that is falling into
disuse, as people read better books."
"And you prefer this heartlessness, Eve, to the nature of your own
country!"
"I do not know that quiet, retenue, and a good tone, are a whit more
heartless than flirting, giggling and childishness. There may be more
nature in the latter, certainly, but it is scarcely as agreeable, after one
has fairly got rid of the nursery."
Grace looked vexed, but she loved her cousin too sincerely to be angry,
A secret suspicion that Eve was right, too, came in aid of her affection,
and while her little foot moved, she maintained her good- nature, a task
not always attainable for those who believe that their own
"superlatives" scarcely reach to other people's "positives." At this
critical moment, when there was so much danger of a jar in the feelings

of these two young females, the library door opened and Pierre, Mr.
Effingham's own man, announced--
"Monsieur Bragg."
"Monsieur who?" asked Eve, in surprise.
"Monsieur Bragg," returned Pierre, in French, "desires to see
Mademoiselle."
"You mean my father,--I know no such person."
"He inquired first for Monsieur, but understanding Monsieur was out,
he next asked to have the honour of seeing Mademoiselle."
"Is it what they call a person in England, Pierre?"
Old Pierre smiled, as he answered--
"He has the air, Mademoiselle, though he esteems himself a
personnage, if I might take the liberty of judging."
"Ask him for his card,--there must be a mistake, I think."
While this short conversation took place, Grace Van Cortlandt was
sketching a cottage with a pen, without attending to a word that was
said. But, when Eve received the card from Pierre and read aloud, with
the tone of surprise that the name would be apt to excite in a novice in
the art of American nomenclature, the words "Aristabulus Bragg," her
cousin began to laugh.
"Who can this possibly be, Grace?--Did you ever hear of such a person,
and what right can he have to wish to see me?"
"Admit him, by all means; it is your father's land agent, and he may
wish to leave some message for my uncle. You will be obliged to make
his acquaintance, sooner or later, and it may as well be done now as at
another time."

"You have shown this gentleman into the front drawing-room, Pierre?"
"Oui, Mademoiselle."
"I will ring when you are wanted."
Pierre withdrew, and Eve opened her secretary, out of which she took a
small manuscript book, over the leaves of which she passed her fingers
rapidly.
"Here it is," she said, smiling, "Mr. Aristabulus Bragg, Attorney and
Counsellor at Law, and the agent of the Templeton estate." This
precious little work, you must understand, Grace, contains sketches of
the characters of such persons as I shall be the most likely to see, by
John Effingham, A.M. It is a sealed volume, of course, but there can be
no harm in reading the part that treats of our present visiter, and, with
your permission, we will have it in common.--'Mr. Aristabulus Bragg
was born in one of the western counties of Massachusetts, and
emigrated to New-York, after receiving his education, at the mature age
of nineteen; at twenty-one he was admitted to the bar, and for the last
seven years he has been a successful practitioner in all the courts of
Otsego, from the justice's to the circuit. His talents are undeniable, as
he commenced his education at fourteen and terminated it at
twenty-one, the law- course included. This man is an epitome of all that
is good and all that is bad, in a very large class of his fellow citizens.
He is quick-witted, prompt in action, enterprising in all things in which
he has nothing to lose, but wary and cautious in all things in which he
has a real stake, and ready to turn not only his hand, but his heart and
his principles to any thing that offers an advantage. With him, literally,
"nothing is too high to be aspired to, nothing too low to be done." He
will run for Governor, or for town-clerk, just as opportunities occur, is
expert in