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"Oh yes, my lord," replied the dame, with a manner which said

more than this timid reply; but her husband, quite animated by

the presence of such a man, by the desire to do himself honour on

an occasion of such importance, studied to make a fine answer. He

wrinkled his forehead, strained his eyes, and compressed his

mouth, but nevertheless felt a confusion of ideas, which

prevented him from uttering a syllable. But time pressed; the

cardinal appeared to have interpreted his silence. The poor man

opened his mouth, and said, "Imagine--" Not a word more could he

say. His failure not only filled him with shame on that day, but

ever after, the unfortunate recollection intruded itself to mar

the pleasure of the great honour he had received. How many times,

in thinking of this circumstance, did a crowd of words come to

his mind, every one of which would have been better than

"Imagine!" But the cavities of our brains are full enough of

thoughts when it is too late to employ them.