gainst the wall. For the first expedient, as
was now plain by the approaching footsteps, there was no longer time;
from the second I recoiled with indignation.

"My dear creatures," said I, "let us die, but do not let us be
ridiculous."

The words were still upon my lips when the door opened and my friend of
the gold eye-glass appeared, a memorable figure, on the threshold. In
one hand she bore a bedroom-candlestick; in the other, with the
steadiness of a dragoon, a horse-pistol. She was wound about in shawls
which did not wholly conceal the candid fabric of her nightdress, and
surmounted by a nightcap of portentous architecture. Thus accoutred, she
made her entrance; laid down the candle and pistol, as no longer called
for; looked about the room with a silence more eloquent than oaths; and
then, in a thrilling voice--"To whom have I the pleasure?" she said,
addressing me with a ghost of a bow.

"Madam, I am charmed, I am sure," said I. "The story is a little long;
and our meeting, however welcome, was for the moment entirely unexpected
by myself. I am sure----" but here I found I was quite sure of nothing,
and tried again. "I have the honour," I began, and found I had the
honour to be only exceedingly confused. With that, I threw myself
outright upon her mercy. "Madam, I must be more frank with you," I
resumed. "You have already proved your charity and compassion for the
French prisoners: I am one of these; and if my appearance be not too
much changed, you may even yet recognise in me that _Oddity_ who had the
good fortune more than once to make you smile."

Still gazing upon me through her glass, she uttered an uncompromising
grunt; and then, turning to her niece--"Flora," said she, "how comes he
here?"

The culprits poured out for a while an antiphony of explanations, which
died out at last in a miserable silence.

"I think at least you might have told your aunt," she snorted.

"Madam," I interposed, "they were about to do so. It is my fault if it
be not done already. But I made it my prayer that your slumbers might be
respected, and this necessary formula of my presentation should be
delayed until to-morrow in the morning."

The old lady regarded me with undissembled incredulity, to which I was
able to find no better repartee than a profound and I trust graceful
reverence.

"French prisoners are very well in their place," she said, "but I cannot
see that their place is in my private dining-room."

"Mada