Suffer a moment; you shall be happy in the
end.'

"Sometimes Adolphe enters at that moment and I am content. But, my dear,
I have less patience than love. I almost wish to tear in pieces the
woman who can go everywhere, and whose society is sought out by men and
women alike. What profound thought lies in the line of Moliere:

"'The world, dear Agnes, is a curious thing!'

"You know nothing of this petty trouble, you fortunate Mathilde! You are
well born. You can do a great deal for me. Just think! I can write you
things that I dared not speak about. Your visits mean so much; come
often to see your poor

"Caroline."

"Well," said I to the notary's clerk, "do you know what was the nature
of this letter to the late Bourgarel?"

"No."

"A note of exchange."

Neither clerk nor notary understood my meaning. Do you?

THE PANGS OF INNOCENCE.

"Yes, dear, in the married state, many things will happen to you which
you are far from expecting: but then others will happen which you expect
still less. For instance--"

The author (may we say the ingenious author?) _qui castigat ridendo
mores_, and who has undertaken the _Petty Troubles of Married Life_,
hardly needs to remark, that, for prudence' sake, he here allows a
lady of high distinction to speak, and that he does not assume the
responsibility of her language, though he professes the most sincere
admiration for the charming person to whom he owes his acquaintance with
this petty trouble.

"For instance--" she says.

He nevertheless thinks proper to avow that this person is neither Madame
Foullepointe, nor Madame de Fischtaminel, nor Madame Deschars.

Madame Deschars is too prudish, Madame Foullepointe too absolute in
her household, and she knows it; indeed, what doesn't she know? She is
good-natured, she sees good society, she wishes to have the best: people
overlook the vivacity of her witticisms, as, under louis XIV, they
overlooked the remarks of Madame Cornuel. They overlook a good many
things in her; there are some women who are the spoiled children of
public opinion.

As to Madame de Fischtaminel, who is, in fact, connected with the
affair, as you shall see, she, being unable to recriminate, abstains
from words and recriminates in acts.

We give permission to all to think that the speaker is Caroline herself,
not the silly little Caroline of tender years. But Caroline when she has
become a woman of thirty.

"For instance," she rema