d rising to deliver her message.

Monsieur de Fontanges, who, like most of the Europeans, slept through
the hottest portion of the day, rose in compliance with his wife's
message, and made his appearance in the boudoir, dressed in a white
cotton jacket and trousers. A few polite inquiries after the health of
Madame de Fontanges, which, as he had conjectured from similar previous
occurrences, was not worse than usual, were followed by his receiving
from her the information of Newton's arrival, coupled with an
observation, that it would amuse her if the prisoner were interrogated
in her presence.

Newton was summoned to the boudoir, where Monsieur de Fontanges, who
spoke very good English, received from him the history of his disasters,
and translated them into French, to gratify the curiosity of his wife.

"C'est un beau garcon," observed Monsieur de Fontanges. "Mais quoi
faire? Il est prisonnier. Il faut l'envoyer a mon frere, le
gouverneur."

"Il est joli garcon," replied Madame de Fontanges. "Donnez-lui des
habits, Fontanges; et ne l'envoyez pas encore."

"Et pourquoi, mon amie?"

"Je voudrois lui apprendre le Francais."

"Cela ne se peut pas, ma chere; il est prisonnier."

"Cela se peut, Monsieur de Fontanges," replied the lady.

"Je n'ose pas," continued the husband.

"Moi j'ose," replied the lady, decidedly.

"Je ne voudrois pas," said the gentleman.

"Moi, je veux," interrupted the lady.

"Mais il faut etre raisonnable, madame."

"Il faut m'obeir, monsieur."

"Mais--"

"Pschut!" replied the lady, "c'est une affaire decidee. Monsieur le
gouverneur ne parle pas l'Anglois. C'est _absolument necessaire_ que le
jeune homme apprenne notre langue; et c'est mon plaisir de l'enseigner.
Au revoir, Monsieur de Fontanges. Charlotte, va chercher des habits."

VOLUME TWO, CHAPTER THREE.

'Tis pleasing to be schooled in a strange tongue
By female lips and eyes; that is, I mean
When both the teacher and the taught are young,
As was the case, at least, where I had been.
They smile so when one's right, and when one's wrong
They smile still more.
BYRON.

Monsieur de Fontanges, aware of the impetuosity and caprice of his wife
(at the same time that he acknowledged her many redeeming good
qualities), did not further attempt to thwart her inclinations. His
great objection to her plan was, the impropriety of retaining a
prisoner, whom he was bound to give up to the proper authorities