402 THE WIDOWED WIFE. 



" It is possible, certainly Madame," replied he ; "but I regret I 

 cannot claim a reciprocal honour " 



" Tell me, Monsieur, did you not leave your wife ?" 



" I confess I have done that " 



" My dear dear love " exclaimed Madame Delcourt, suddenly 

 embracing him with open arms " 



" For God's sake, Madame, remember what you are about, and 

 whose eyes are upon you ! " 

 " Why ! have you not confest ?" 

 " Confess what ?" 



" Why that ." But it here strikes the writer 



that he is not doing a very correct thing in relating what passed 

 during this conversation, and as the doing so might be deemed by 

 some a species of confidential treachery, he regrets that he has already 

 proceeded so far and by way of endeavouring to make atonement 



for his fault, he will stop here. 



Monsieur Claremont, who had not happily witnessed the embrace 

 of Madame Delcourt, presently advanced, and asked her if she did 



not think it high time to return to the bridegroom. 



" Yes, I know wait a minute there's no hurry " 



" No hurry !" repeated Monsieur Claremont in amazement, ee why 

 just now you were fretting that the clergyman had not come, and now 

 he has, you say there's no hurry It's really very extraordinary 

 Pray, Monsieur," he continued, addressing his brother-in-law, " are 

 you the cause of this change ?" 



" Me ! not I truly come, nephew," he continued, addressing Bap- 

 tiste, " take the bride's hand, and away to the church " 



ft Why, really, as to that/' said Baptiste " if Madame Delcourt 



sees so hurry I must say I do not see why " 



" Madame Delcourt," said Monsieur Claremont, interrupting his 

 son, " I must beg that you explain this conduct at once Is it that 



my brother-in-law " 



ee Yes, it is indeed it is" said she, in a hurried voice, and with- 

 out waiting to hear the remainder of his sentence. 

 " How do you mean, it is" said Claremont. 



" Why," continued she, " since I have seen him I have had certain 

 thoughts come across me " 



" Certain thoughts !" said Claremont, in greater astonishment than 

 ever " 



" Oh ! my dear uncle, how very much I thank you for effecting this 



change," said Baptiste to Monsieur Le Grande. 



" Indeed, you've nothing to thank me for," said the latter. 

 " Monsieur Le Grande," observed Claremont, in a voice of some 

 authority as if determined to call somebody to account for this alter- 

 tion ; " allow me to tell you, that your conduct on this occasion, as a 



married man, and the husband of my sister " 



" I assure you, my dear brother, 7 have done nothing/' replied 

 Monsieur Le Grande " it is all Madame Delcourt." 



" Well ! I don't care who it is, so as it is but somebody," said Bap- 

 tiste, as he snapped his fingers, and capered to the spot where Lily 

 and Antoinette (both, after the assurance they had received, pleased, 



