minutes, which seemed as many hours to our anxious lovers.
"Dey say," said Lavoisier, "l'amour fait passer le temps, but in l'Amerique it is very differente."
The justice took Lavoisier aside, and inquired whether there were any objections to the marriage, on the part of the lady's friends.
"Objections!" said Lavoisier, "it is the most grande félicité to every body. You cannot conceive."
On being further interrogated, Lavoisier confessed that they came from Massachusetts; and being asked why they were not married at the place of the lady's residence, he said that "some personnes without sensibilité may wait, but for mademoiselle and me, it is impossible."
Elvira being examined apart, in the manner, declared that her intended husband's impatience and her own dislike to the formality of a publishment, had led them to avoid the usual mode and forms of marriage.
The justice, who derived the chief profits of his office from clandestine matches, and who had made these inquiries more because it was a common custom, than from any scruples of conscience, or sense of official duty, was perfectly satisfied; and after requiring from the bridegroom the usual promise to love and cherish; and from the bride, to love, cherish, and obey; pronounced them man and wife, and recorded the marriage in a book containing a record of similar official acts, and of divers suits and the proceedings therein.
