carry her off, supposing that she was a
very rich prize, but, madam, he made a slight mistake--instead of your
daughter, he has run away and married the French teacher, who has not a
sixpence. He has now found out his mistake, and is off to Paris to hide
himself from the laughter of the town.'

"This intelligence was the cause of much mirth and glee to Mr and Mrs
Stanhope; the latter actually cried with delight, and I took care to
join heartily in the merriment. As soon as it had subsided, Mrs
Stanhope said--

"`But Mr Selwyn, you said that my daughter was married. How is that?'

"`Why, madam, the fact is, that your daughter's affections were engaged
at the time of this elopement of the Colonel's, and it was her intention
to make known to you that such was the case, presuming that you would
not refuse to sanction her marriage; but, when the elopement took place,
and it was even reported that she had run away, her position became very
awkward, and the more so, as some people declared (as the Colonel
asserted), that she was not legally married. On consulting with the
gentleman of her choice, it was argued thus: If Miss Stanhope goes back
to her father's house after this report that she is not legally married,
it will be supposed that the Colonel, finding that he was disappointed
in his views, had returned her dishonoured upon her parents' hands, and
no subsequent marriage would remove the impression. It was therefore
considered advisable, both on her parents' account and on her own, that
she also should elope, and then it would be easily explained that it was
somebody else who had eloped with the Colonel, and that Miss Stanhope
had married in a secret way. Miss Stanhope, therefore, was properly
married in church before respectable witnesses, and conducted
immediately afterwards by her husband to his father's house, who
approved of what was done, as now no reflection can be made, either upon
Miss Stanhope or her respectable parents.'

"`Well, let us all know the person to whom she is married.'

"`To myself, madam, and your daughter is now at Judge Selwyn's, where
she has been ever since her marriage, with my mother and sisters. My
father would have accompanied me, to explain all this, but the fact is,
that his lordship is now so much occupied that he could not. He will,
however, be happy to see Mr Stanhope, who is an idle man, either at his
town house, or at his country seat. I trust, madam, as I have the
hon