t an early breakfast and some repose,
before proceeding upon our route. At four precisely, therefore, the
carriage drew up at the door of the principal inn. I handed my adored
wife out, and ordered breakfast forthwith. In the meantime we were shown
into a small parlor, and sat down.

It was now nearly if not altogether daylight; and, as I gazed,
enraptured, at the angel by my side, the singular idea came, all at
once, into my head, that this was really the very first moment since my
acquaintance with the celebrated loveliness of Madame Lalande, that I
had enjoyed a near inspection of that loveliness by daylight at all.

"And now, mon ami," said she, taking my hand, and so interrupting this
train of reflection, "and now, mon cher ami, since we are indissolubly
one--since I have yielded to your passionate entreaties, and performed
my portion of our agreement--I presume you have not forgotten that you
also have a little favor to bestow--a little promise which it is your
intention to keep. Ah! let me see! Let me remember! Yes; full easily do
I call to mind the precise words of the dear promise you made to Eugenie
last night. Listen! You spoke thus: 'It is done!--it is most cheerfully
agreed! I sacrifice every feeling for your sake. To-night I wear this
dear eye-glass as an eye-glass, and upon my heart; but with the earliest
dawn of that morning which gives me the privilege of calling you wife, I
will place it upon my--upon my nose,--and there wear it ever afterward,
in the less romantic, and less fashionable, but certainly in the more
serviceable, form which you desire.' These were the exact words, my
beloved husband, were they not?"

"They were," I said; "you have an excellent memory; and assuredly,
my beautiful Eugenie, there is no disposition on my part to evade the
performance of the trivial promise they imply. See! Behold! they are
becoming--rather--are they not?" And here, having arranged the glasses
in the ordinary form of spectacles, I applied them gingerly in their
proper position; while Madame Simpson, adjusting her cap, and folding
her arms, sat bolt upright in her chair, in a somewhat stiff and prim,
and indeed, in a somewhat undignified position.

"Goodness gracious me!" I exclaimed, almost at the very instant that the
rim of the spectacles had settled upon my nose--"My goodness gracious
me!--why, what can be the matter with these glasses?" and taking them
quickly off, I wiped them carefully with a silk hand