ed for Good Temper herself. The
gentleman over whose chair she leaned was her husband; they had been
married six weeks; he was a lieutenant with one hundred pounds a
year besides his pay. Greatly affected by their poverty, I instantly
determined, without a second thought, to ensconce myself in the heart
of this charming girl. During the first hour in my new residence I made
many wise reflections such as--that Love never was so perfect as when
accompanied by Poverty; what a vulgar error it was to call the unmarried
state 'Single _Blessedness_;' how wrong it was of us Virtues never to
have tried the marriage bond; and what a falsehood it was to say that
husbands neglected their wives, for never was there anything in nature
so devoted as the love of a husband--six weeks married!

"The next morning, before breakfast, as the charming Fanny was
waiting for her husband, who had not yet finished his toilet, a poor,
wretched-looking object appeared at the window, tearing her hair and
wringing her hands; her husband had that morning been dragged to prison,
and her seven children had fought for the last mouldy crust. Prompted
by me, Fanny, without inquiring further into the matter, drew from her
silken purse a five-pound note, and gave it to the beggar, who departed
more amazed than grateful. Soon after, the lieutenant appeared. 'What
the devil, another bill!' muttered he, as he tore the yellow wafer from
a large, square, folded, bluish piece of paper. 'Oh, ah! confound the
fellow, _he_ must be paid. I must trouble you, Fanny, for fifteen pounds
to pay this saddler's bill.'

"'Fifteen pounds, love?' stammered Fanny, blushing.

"'Yes, dearest, the fifteen pounds I gave you yesterday.'

"'I have only ten pounds,' said Fanny, hesitatingly; 'for such a poor,
wretched-looking creature was here just now, that I was obliged to give
her five pounds.'

"'Five pounds? good Heavens!' exclaimed the astonished husband; 'I shall
have no more money this three weeks.' He frowned, he bit his lips, nay,
he even wrung his hands, and walked up and down the room; worse still,
he broke forth with--'Surely, madam, you did not suppose, when you
married a lieutenant in a marching regiment, that he could afford to
indulge in the whim of giving five pounds to every mendicant who held
out her hand to you? You did not, I say, madam, imagine'--but the
bridegroom was interrupted by the convulsive sobs of his wife: it was
their first quarrel, they were but