about him; had a very broad-leaved hat set
jauntily on one side of his head; and supported his steps upon a sturdy
stick.

I saluted this singular-looking pair, and was by the lady honoured with
an especially gracious curtsey, whilst the gaunt old man bade me good
day in an accent decidedly foreign. I patted the cat of the basket,
addressing it in French, and was in a moment overwhelmed by the delights
of its mistress, who _ciel_'d, and _mon-Dieu_'d, and _quel-plaisir_'d,
until, if her tall _mari_ had not stepped in to the rescue, I do not
know to what lengths her delight might not have carried her.

The horse was sufficiently rested; the man who drove it was ready to
proceed; and the ancient Parisienne, for such she was, had once more to
ensconce herself beneath the canvass covering of the waggon, into which
I had the honour of assisting herself and her cat, amidst thanks and
excuses blended with all the graceful volubility of a well-bred
Frenchwoman,--for well-bred she was, beyond a doubt.

"My poor little woman!" said the old giant, as, after the twentieth
adieu, I joined him where he waited a little in advance of the waggon,
and quickened my pace to keep up with his strides,--"she is made too
happy for to-day to hear a gentleman address her in her own language,
and by whom she can be understood;" adding, "You are not a Frenchman,
sir?"

"I am not," said I, smiling; "but should imagine you are, by the
compliment you so adroitly infer."

"No, sir," rejoined mine ancient, "I am a Biscayan; bred a ship-builder,
but at present a house-carpenter."

"But you speak English like a native: how is that?" inquired I, desirous
of continuing the dialogue thus begun.

"I have been forty years in this good country, and have made better
progress than my poor little woman, though she is well educated and I
have no learning to help me."

"Madame, then, is not Spanish?"

"No, sir, she is of Paris; and, what is very odd, that is nearly all she
ever told me of herself. It was in the winter of 1792 that I first met
my poor little woman: I had slept within a few miles of Havre, and was
just turned away from the cabaret, when a little boy joined me,
requesting that I would let him walk with me to the town. We fell into
chat, when I discovered that my new friend had no passport, but that he
had money, and was desirous to escape from France, no matter to what
place. He was in great trouble; cried much; said he had lost all his
fr