CHAPTER XL. THE HAPPY PAIR.

kethedowrydependonAlfred’sgivinghiswrittenpromisethathewillnevertouchcardsordicefromthedayitispaiddown.Theyaccusemyangelofatendencytoplay:Idon’tknowanythingaboutthat,butIdoknowheisadear,adorablecreature. “IcannotsufficientlyextolthegeniuswithwhichdeHamalmanagedourflight.Howcleverinhimtoselectthenightofthefête,whenMadame(forheknowsherhabits),ashesaid,wouldinfalliblybeabsentattheconcertinthepark.Isupposeyoumusthavegonewithher.Iwatchedyouriseandleavethedormitoryabouteleveno’clock.Howyoureturnedalone,andonfoot,Icannotconjecture.ThatsurelywasyouwemetinthenarrowoldRueSt.Jean?Didyouseemewavemyhandkerchieffromthecarriagewindow? “Adieu!Rejoiceinmygoodluck:congratulatemeonmysupremehappiness,andbelieveme,dearcynicandmisanthrope,yours,inthebestofhealthandspirits, GINEVRALAURADEHAMAL, néeFANSHAWE. “P.S.—Remember,Iamacountessnow.Papa,mamma,andthegirlsathome,willbedelightedtohearthat.‘MydaughtertheCountess!’‘MysistertheCountess!’Bravo!SoundsratherbetterthanMrs.JohnBretton,hein?” InwindingupMistressFanshawe’smemoirs,thereaderwillnodoubtexpecttohearthatshecamefinallytobitterexpiationofheryouthfullevities.Ofcourse,alargeshareofsufferingliesinreserveforherfuture. Afewwordswillembodymyfartherknowledgerespectingher. Isawhertowardsthecloseofherhoneymoon.ShecalledonMadameBeck,andsentformeintothesalon.Sherushedintomyarmslaughing.Shelookedverybloomingandbeautiful:hercurlswerelonger,hercheeksrosierthanever:herwhitebonnetandherFlandersveil,herorange-flowersandherbride’sdress,becamehermightily. “Ihavegotmyportion!”shecriedatonce(GinevraeverstucktothesubstantialIalwaysthoughttherewasagoodtradingelementinhercomposition,muchasshescornedthe“bourgeoise”)“anduncledeBassompierreisquitereconciled.Idon’tmindhiscallingAlfreda‘nincompoop’—that’sonlyhiscoarseScotchbreedingandIbelievePaulinaenviesme,andDr.Johniswildwithjealousy—fittoblowhisbrainsout—andI’msohappy!IreallythinkI’vehardlyanythinglefttowishfor—unlessitbeacarriageandanhotel,and,oh!I—mustintroduceyouto‘monmari.’Alfred,comehere!” AndAlfredappearedfromtheinnersalon,wherehewastalkingtoMadameBeck,receivingtheblendedfelicitationsandreprimandsofthatlady.Iwaspresentedundermyvariousnames:theDragon,Diogenes,andTimon.TheyoungColonelwasverypolite.Hemademeaprettily-turned,neatly-wordedapology,abouttheghost-visits,&c.,concludingwithsayingthat“thebestexcu