ed. Wait! I
will descend."

And disappearing from the window, Sir Asinus soon made his appearance
at the door, and approached the boy and girl. The girl was laughing.

"Oh, sir! I think I understand now--you were fishing for swallows, and
the hook----"

"Caught in your dress! Precisely, my beautiful little lady, whom I
have the pleasure of seeing for the fiftieth time, since I see you
passing every morning, noon and evening--precisely. Immured in my
apartment for political reasons, I am reduced to this species of
amusement; and this hook attached to this thread contained a grain of
wheat. It floated far up, and some cormorant devoured it; then the
wind ceasing, it had the misfortune to strike into your dress."

With which words Sir Asinus made an elegant bow, wrapping his old
dressing-gown about him with one hand, while he extricated the hook
with the other.

"There! you are free!" he said; "I am very sorry, my dear little
lady----"

"Oh, indeed, sir! it is very funny! I'm almost glad it caught me,
Bathurst laughed so much."

"I have the pleasure of making Mr. Bathurst's acquaintance," said Sir
Asinus politely; and in spite of little Martha's correction, that Mr.
Bathurst was not his name, he added, "Your cavalier at the ball
to-night, I presume?"

"Oh, sir, you are laughing," said the girl, with her bright face; "but
we are going to the ball."

"And will you dance with me?"

"If _you_ will, sir."

"Extraordinary innocence!" muttered the knight, "not common among
young ladies;" then he added, "I assure you, Miss--you have not told
me----"

"My name is Martha, sir."

"Well, Miss Martha, I shall dance with you most delightedly. Asinus is
my name--I am descended from a great Assyrian family; and this is my
lodging. Looking up any morning, my dear Miss Martha, you will receive
the most elegant bow I have--such as is due to a Fairy Queen, and the
empress of my soul.--Good morning, Mowbray."

And saluting the students who passed, laughing, Sir Asinus ascended
again, muttering and wrapping his old dressing-gown more tightly
around him.

"Yes," he said, "there's no doubt about the fact in my own mind;--I am
just as much in love with that pretty young girl who has left me
laughing and joyous, as that ridiculous Jacques is with his beauty at
Shadynook. I thought at one time I was in love with Belle-bouche
myself, but I was mistaken. I certainly was convinced of it, however,
or why did I name my sail-boat th