that you are not deprived of your usual pleasures and luxuries,
and I care not what I do or how I live. You will find no exacting wife
in me, dearest, troubling you for expenses you cannot afford. I will
live but to please you, and if I do not succeed, I will die--if you wish
to be rid of me."

Adele resumed her caresses with the tears running down her cheeks, for
she loved her husband dearly, and felt what she said.

The Colonel could not resist her: he put his arms round her and said,
"Do not cry, Adele, I believe you, and, moreover, I feel that I love
you. I am thankful that I have not married Caroline Stanhope, for I
presume she cannot be very different from her parents. I admit that I
have been deceiving myself, and that I have deceived myself into a
better little wife than I deserve, perhaps. I really am glad of my
escape. I would not have been connected with those people for the
universe. We will do as you say: we will go to France for a short time,
and you shall introduce me to your relations."

Before the next morning, Adele had gained the victory. The Colonel felt
that he had deceived himself, that he might be laughed at, and that the
best that could be done was to go to Paris and announce from thence his
marriage in the papers. He had a sufficiency to live upon, to command
luxury as well as comforts, and on the whole he was now satisfied, that
a handsome and strongly-attached wife, who brought him no fortune, was
preferable to a marriage of mere interest. I may as well here observe,
that Adele played her cards so well, that the Colonel was a happy and
contented man. She kept her promise, and he found with her management
that he had more money than a married man required, and he blessed the
day in which he had married by mistake. And now to return to the
Stanhopes.

Although they were too angry at the time to pay much heed to the
Colonel's parting threats, yet when they had cooled, and had time for
reflection, Mr and Mrs Stanhope were much distressed at the
intelligence that their daughter was not legally married. For some
days, they remained quiet, at last they thought it advisable to come to
terms to save their daughter's honour. But during this delay on their
part, Adele had called upon me, and introduced her husband and made me
acquainted with all that had passed. They stated their intention of
proceeding to Paris immediately, and although I knew that Adele's
relations were of good famil