h, 'were you the plaintiff in this cause?'

"'Oh my dear Mr Bullfrog,' replied my wife sweetly, 'I thought all
the world knew that!'

"'Horror! horror!' exclaimed I, sinking back on the seat.

"Covering my face with both hands, I emitted a deep groan, as if
my tormented soul were rending me asunder. I, the most exquisitely
fastidious of men, and whose wife was to be the most delicate and
refined of women, with all the fresh dew-drops glittering on her
virgin rosebud of a heart! I thought of the glossy ringlets and
pearly teeth--I thought of the kalydor--I thought of the
coachman's bruised ear and bloody nose--I thought of the tender
love-secrets, which she had whispered to the judge and jury, and a
thousand tittering auditors--and gave another groan!

"'Mr Bullfrog,' said my wife.

"As I made no reply, she gently took my hands within her own,
removed them from my face, and fixed her eyes steadfastly on mine.

"'Mr Bullfrog,' said she, not unkindly, yet with all the decision
of her strong character, 'let me advise you to overcome this
foolish weakness, and prove yourself, to the best of your ability,
as good a husband as I will be a wife. You have discovered,
perhaps, some little imperfections in your bride. Well, what did
you expect? Women are not angels.'

"'But why conceal these imperfections?' interposed I, tremulously.

"'Now, my love, are you not a most unreasonable little man?' said
Mrs Bullfrog, patting me on the cheek. 'Ought a woman to expose
her frailties earlier than on the wedding day? Well, what a
strange man you are! Pooh! you are joking.'

"'But the suit for breach of promise!' groaned I.

"'Ah! and is that the rub?' exclaimed my wife. 'Is it possible
that you view that affair in an objectionable light? Mr Bullfrog,
I never could have dreamt it! Is it an objection, that I have
triumphantly defended myself against slander, and vindicated my
purity in a court of justice? Or do you complain, because your
wife has shown the proper spirit of a woman, and punished the
villain who trifled with her affections?'

"'But,' persisted I, shrinking into a corner of the coach,
however; for I did not know precisely how much contradiction the
proper spirit of a woman would endure; 'but, my love, would it not
have been more dignified to treat the villain with th