"`_Allons, messieurs_!' said the _conducteur_; and when I got in I found myself the sixth person, and opposite to the lady: for all the other passengers were of my own sex. Having fixed our hats up to the roof, wriggled and twisted a little so as to get rid of coat-tails, etcetera, all of which was effected previously to our having cleared _Rue Notre Dame des Victoires_, we began to scrutinise each other. Our female companion's veil was down and doubled so that I could not well make her out; my other four companions were young men--all Frenchmen,--apparently good-tempered, and inclined to be agreeable. A few seconds were sufficient for my reconnoitre of the gentlemen, and then my eyes were naturally turned towards the lady. She was muffled up in a winter cloak, so that her figure was not to be made out; and the veil still fell down before her face, so that only one cheek and a portion of her chin could be deciphered: that fragment of her physiognomy was very pretty, and I watched in silence for the removal of the veil. "I have omitted to state that, before I got into the diligence, I saw her take a very tender adieu of a very handsome woman; but, as her back was turned to me at the time, I did not see her face. She had now fallen back in her seat, and seemed disposed to commune with her own thoughts: that did not suit my views, which were to have a view of her face. Real politeness would have induced me to leave her to herself, but pretended politeness was resorted to that I might gratify my curiosity; so I inquired if she wished the window up. The answer was in the negative, and in a very sweet voice; and then there was a pause, of course so I tried again. "`You are melancholy at parting with your handsome sister,' observed I, leaning forward with as much appearance of interest as I could put into my beautiful phiz. "`How could you have presumed that she was my sister?' replied she. "`From the _strong family_ likeness,' replied I. `I felt certain of it.' "`But she is only my sister-in-law, sir,--my brother's wife.' "`Then, I presume, he chose a wife as like his sister as he could find; nothing more natural--I should have done the same.' "`Sir, you are very polite,' replied the lady, who lowered down the window, adding, `I like fresh air.' "`Perhaps you will find yourself less incommoded if you take off your veil?' "`I will not ascribe that proposition to curiosity on your part, sir,' replied the lady, `as you have already seen my face.' "`You cannot, then, be surprised at my wishing to see it once more.' "`You are very polite, sir.'