Belle-bouche had never looked more beautiful, and the tender simplicity of her languishing eyes almost made the poetical Sir Asinus imagine himself in love. He found himself endeavoring to recollect whether he had not been induced to pay this visit by the expectation of beholding her; but with that rigid truth which ever characterized the operations of his great intellect, was compelled to come to the conclusion that the motive causes of his visit were the hope of a good breakfast, and a morning lounge in country quarters, unalarmed by the apprehension of invading deans and proctors. In a word, our friend Sir Asinus had coveted a cool morning at pleasant Shadynook, in company with Belle-bouche or a novel; and this had spurred him to such extraordinary haste, not to mention the early rising. "Ah!" said Belle-bouche, as she sat down upon a sofa in the cool pleasant apartment, whose open windows permitted the odors of a thousand flowers to weigh the air down with their fragrance, "what a lovely morning! It is almost wrong to remain in the house." "Let us go forth then, my dear Madam Belle-bouche," said Sir Asinus. "I see you retain that funny name for me," said the young girl with a smile. "Yes: it is beautiful, as all about Shadynook is--the garden most of all--yourself excepted of course, madam." "It was very adroitly done, that turn of the sentence," Belle-bouche replied, smiling again pleasantly. "Let us go into the garden, as you admire it so much." And she rose. Sir Asinus hastened to offer his arm, and they entered the beautiful garden, alive with flowers. Sir Asinus uttered a number of beautiful sentiments on the subject of flowers and foliage, which we regret our inability to report. After spending an hour or more among the trees, they returned to the house. Just as they entered, a gentleman was visible at the gate--evidently a visitor. This gentleman had dismounted, and as he stood behind his horse arranging the martingale, he was for the moment unrecognisable. "Will you permit me to remain in the garden, my dear Miss Belle-bouche, until your visitor has departed?" said Sir Asinus. "I find myself suddenly smitten with a love of nature--and I would trouble you not to mention the fact of my presence. It will be useless." "Certainly I will not, sir," said Belle-bouche. And Sir Asinus, seeing the gentleman move, precipitately entered the garden, where he ignominiously concealed himself--having snatched up a volume of poems to console him in his retirement. The visitor was Jacques. He entered with his soft melancholy smile, and approaching Belle-bouche, pressed her hand to his lips. "I am glad to see you so bright," he said; "but you always look blooming." And he sat down and gazed around sadly.