ort of the pillow, which you used to tell
me I was churlish about; but all would not do. I took,
nevertheless, my walk before breakfast, though the weather was not
inviting; and here I am, wishing you a finer day, and seeing you
peep over my shoulder, as I write, with one of your kindest looks,
when your eyes glisten and a suffusion creeps over your relaxing
features.

But I do not mean to dally with you this morning. So God bless you!
Take care of yourself, and sometimes fold to your heart your
affectionate

MARY.

The second note was written shortly before his return, and was a mere
postscript to a letter on business. Had she covered reams of paper with
her protestations, she could not have expressed her tender devotion more
strongly than in these few lines:--

Do not call me stupid for leaving on the table the little bit of
paper I was to enclose. This comes of being in love at the fag-end
of a letter of business. You know you say they will not chime
together. I had got you by the fire-side with the _gigot_ smoking
on the board, to lard your bare ribs, and behold, I closed my
letter without taking the paper up, that was directly under my
eyes! What had I got in them to render me so blind? I give you
leave to answer the question, if you will not scold; for I am

Yours most affectionately,
MARY.

Imlay's absence was brief, nor did he again leave Mary until the
following August. In April their child, a daughter, was born, whom Mary
called Fanny in memory of her first and dearest friend. Despite her past
imprudences, she was so well that she remained in bed but a day. Eight
days later she was out again. Though she felt no ill effects at the time,
her rashness had probably something to do with her illness when her
second child was born. These months at Havre were a pleasant oasis in
the dreary desert of her existence. To no parched, sun-weary traveller
have the cooling waters of the well and the shade of the palm-tree been
more refreshing and invigorating than domestic pleasures were to Mary.
Years before she had told Mr. Johnson they were among her most highly
cherished joys, nor did they prove less desirable when realized than they
had in anticipation. She seems to have had a house of her own in Havre,
and to have seen a little of the Havrais, whom she found "ugly without
doubt," and their houses smelling to