CHAPTER XL. THE HAPPY PAIR.

theroofofthelowerbuildingsofourpremises—hemanagedtoscalethefirstclasseandthegrandsalle.Onenight,bytheway,hefelloutofthistree,toredownsomeofthebranches,nearlybrokehisownneck,andafterall,inrunningaway,gotaterriblefright,andwasnearlycaughtbytwopeople,MadameBeckandM.Emanuel,hethinks,walkinginthealley.Fromthegrandesalletheascentisnotdifficulttothehighestblockofbuilding,finishinginthegreatgarret.Theskylight,youknow,is,dayandnight,lefthalfopenforairbytheskylightheentered.NearlyayearagoIchancedtotellhimourlegendofthenunthatsuggestedhisromanticideaofthespectraldisguise,whichIthinkyoumustallowhehasverycleverlycarriedout. “Butforthenun’sblackgownandwhiteveil,hewouldhavebeencaughtagainandagainbothbyyouandthattiger-Jesuit,M.Paul.Hethinksyoubothcapitalghost-seers,andverybrave.WhatIwonderatis,ratheryoursecretivenessthanyourcourage.Howcouldyouendurethevisitationsofthatlongspectre,timeaftertime,withoutcryingout,tellingeverybody,androusingthewholehouseandneighbourhood? “Oh,andhowdidyoulikethenunasabed-fellow?Idressedherup:didn’tIdoitwell?Didyoushriekwhenyousawher:Ishouldhavegonemadbutthenyouhavesuchnerves!—realironandbend-leather!Ibelieveyoufeelnothing.Youhaven’tthesamesensitivenessthatapersonofmyconstitutionhas.Youseemtomeinsensiblebothtopainandfearandgrief.YouarearealoldDiogenes. “Well,deargrandmother!andareyounotmightilyangryatmymoonlightflittingandrunawaymatch?Iassureyouitisexcellentfun,andIdiditpartlytospitethatminx,Paulina,andthatbear,Dr.John:toshowthemthat,withalltheirairs,Icouldgetmarriedaswellasthey.M.deBassompierrewasatfirstinastrangefumewithAlfredhethreatenedaprosecutionfor‘détournementdemineur,’andIknownotwhathewassoabominablyinearnest,thatIfoundmyselfforcedtodoalittlebitofthemelodramatic—godownonmyknees,sob,cry,drenchthreepocket-handkerchiefs.Ofcourse,‘mononcle’soongaveinindeed,wherewastheuseofmakingafuss?Iammarried,andthat’sallaboutit.Hestillsaysourmarriageisnotlegal,becauseIamnotofage,forsooth!Asifthatmadeanydifference!IamjustasmuchmarriedasifIwereahundred.However,wearetobemarriedagain,andIamtohaveatrousseau,andMrs.CholmondeleyisgoingtosuperintenditandtherearesomehopesthatM.deBassompierrewillgivemeadecentportion,whichwillbeveryconvenient,asdearAlfredhasnothingbuthisnobility,nativeandhereditary,andhispay.Ionlywishunclewoulddothingsunconditionally,inagenerous,gentleman-likefashionheissodisagreeableastoma