me dine with you. 'The sex is ever to a stranger kind,' and I shall
probably be more persuasive than you, in despite of your legitimate
authority."

So saying, I left the room, with a curiosity more painful than pleasing,
to see the collegian's wife. I arrested the man servant, and ordered him
to usher and announce me.

I was led instanter into the apartment where I had discovered all the
signs of female inquisitiveness, which I have before detailed. There I
discovered a small woman, in a robe equally slatternly and fine, with
a sharp pointed nose, small, cold, grey eyes, and a complexion high
towards the cheek bones, but waxing of a light green before it reached
the wide and querulous mouth, which, well I ween, seldom opened to
smile upon the unfortunate possessor of her charms. She, like the Rev.
Christopher, was not without her companions; a tall meagre woman,
of advanced age, and a girl, some years younger than herself, were
introduced to me as her mother and sister.

My entree occasioned no little confusion, but I knew well how to remedy
that. I held out my hand so cordially to the wife, that I enticed,
though with evident reluctance, two bony fingers into my own, which I
did not dismiss without a most mollifying and affectionate squeeze; and
drawing my chair close towards her, began conversing as familiarly as
if I had known the whole triad for years. I declared my joy at seeing
my old friend so happily settled--commented on the improvement of his
looks--ventured a sly joke at the good effects of matrimony--praised
a cat couchant, worked in worsted by the venerable hand of the eldest
matron--offered to procure her a real cat of the true Persian breed,
black ears four inches long, with a tail like a squirrel's; and then
slid, all at once, into the unauthorized invitation of the good man of
the house.

"Clutterbuck," said I, "has asked me very warmly to stay dinner; but,
before I accepted his offer, I insisted upon coming to see how far it
was confirmed by you. Gentlemen, you are aware, my dear Madam, know
nothing of these matters, and I never accept a married man's invitation
till it has the sanction of his lady: I have an example of that at home.
My mother (Lady Frances) is the best-tempered woman in the world: but my
father could no more take the liberty (for I may truly call it such) to
ask even his oldest friend to dinner, without consulting the mistress
of the house, than he could think of flying. No one (