was described, not named--a
Being all beauty and perfection, like other young ladies under similar
circumstances. My wife asked to see the letter: I could not help showing
it, and handed it to her, with a very sad face. To my surprise she read
it, without exhibiting any corresponding sorrow of her own.

"I have thought of this before, my love," I said. "I feel with you for
your disappointment regarding poor Hetty."

"Ah! poor Hetty," says Theo, looking down at the carpet.

"It would never have done," says I.

"No--they would not have been happy," sighs Theo.

"How strange he never should have found out her secret!" I continued.

She looked me full in the face with an odd expression. "Pray, what does
that look mean?" I asked.

"Nothing, my dear--nothing! only I am not surprised!" says Theo,
blushing.

"What," I ask, "can there be another?"

"I am sure I never said so, George," says the lady, hurriedly. "But if
Hetty has overcome her childish folly, ought we not all to be glad? Do
you gentlemen suppose that you only are to fall in love and grow tired,
indeed?"

"What!" I say, with a strange commotion of my mind. "Do you mean to tell
me, Theo, that you ever cared for any one but me?"

"Oh, George," she whimpers, "when I was at school, there was--there was
one of the boys of Doctor Backhouse's school, who sate in the loft next
to us; and I thought he had lovely eyes, and I was so shocked when I
recognised him behind the counter at Mr. Grigg's the mercer's, when I
went to buy a cloak for baby, and I wanted to tell you, my dear, and I
didn't know how!"

I went to see this creature with the lovely eyes, having made my wife
describe the fellow's dress to me, and I saw a little bandy-legged
wretch in a blue camlet coat, with his red hair tied with a dirty
ribbon, about whom I forbore generously even to reproach my wife; nor
will she ever know that I have looked at the fellow, until she reads the
confession in this page. If our wives saw us as we are, I thought, would
they love us as they do? Are we as much mistaken in them, as they in us?
I look into one candid face at least, and think it never has deceived
me.

Lest I should encourage my young people to an imitation of my own
imprudence, I will not tell them with how small a capital Mrs. Theo and
I commenced life. The unfortunate tragedy brought us nothing; though the
reviewers, since its publication of late, have spoken not unfavourably
as to its merits, and