You must always bear in mind that the novelty is not in the working of these machines, but the smallness of the cost of working." Douglas endured the rest of the exhibition in silence, understanding none of the contrivances until they were explained, and not always understanding them even then.

It was disagreeable to be instructed by Conolly--to feel that there were matters of which Conolly knew everything and he nothing.

If he could have but shaped a pertinent question or two, enough to prove that he was quite capable of the subject if he chose to turn his attention to it, he could have accepted Conolly's information on the machinery as indifferently as that of a policeman on the shortest way to some place that it was no part of a gentleman's routine to frequent.

As it was, he took refuge in his habitual reserve, and, lest the exhibition should be prolonged on his account, took care to shew no more interest in it than was barely necessary to satisfy Mr.Lind.At last it was over; and they returned westward together in a hansom.
"He is a Yankee, I suppose,'" said Douglas, as if ingenuity were a low habit that must be tolerated in an American.
"Yes.

They are a wonderful people for that sort of thing.