under Douglas' direction, constructed these wooden bridges and seats, or cut out and gravelled the little winding paths that we had previously marked out. The task of keeping everything in order is now easy, as you may believe, when I tell you the whole of our pleasure-grounds, as you are pleased to term them, receive no other attention than what is bestowed by children under twelve years of age. And now having, I hope, acquitted myself of the charge of extravagance, I ought to beg Lady Juliana's pardon for this long, and, I fear, tiresome detail." Having now reached the house, Mrs. Douglas conducted her guest to the apartment prepared for her, while the brothers pursued their walk. As long as novelty retained its power, and the comparison between Glenfern and Lochmarlie was fresh in remembrance, Lady Juliana, charmed with everything, was in high good-humour. But as the horrors of the one were forgotten, and the comforts of the other became familiar, the demon of ennui again took possession of her vacant mind; and she relapsed into all her capricious humours and childish impertinences. The harpsichord, which, on her first arrival, she had pronounced to be excellent, was now declared quite shocking so much out of tune, that there was no possibility of playing upon it. The small collection of well-chosen novels she soon exhausted, and then they became "the stupidest books she had ever read"; the smell of the heliotrope now gave her the headache; the sight of the lake made her sea-sick. Mrs. Douglas heard all these civilities in silence; and much more "in sorrow than in anger." In the wayward inclinations, variable temper, and ; wretched inanity of this poor victim of indulgence, she beheld the sad fruits of a fashionable education and thought, with humility, that, under similar circumstances, such might have been her own character. "Oh, what an awful responsibility do those parents incur," she would mentally exclaim, "who thus neglect or corrupt the noble deposit of an immortal soul ! And who, alas! can tell where the mischief may end. This unfortunate will herself become a mother; yet wholly ignorant of the duties, incapable of the self-denial of that sacred office, she will bring into the world creatures to whom she can only transmit her errors and her weaknesses! These reflections at times deeply affected the generous heart and truly Christian spirit of Mrs. Douglas; and she sought, by every means in her power, to restrain those faults, which she knew it would be vain to attempt eradicating. To diversify the routine of days which grew more and more tedious to Lady Juliana, the weather being remarkably fine, many little excursions were made to the nearest country seats; which, though they did not afford her any actual pleasure, answered the purpose of consuming a considerable portion of her time. Several weeks passed away, during which little inclination was shewn on the part of the guests, to quit their present residence; when Mr. and Mrs. Douglas were summoned to attend the sick bed of Sir Duncan Malcolm; and though they pressed their guests to remain during their absence, yet Henry felt that it would be highly offensive to his father were they to do so, and therefore resolved immediately to return to Glenfern. CHAPTER XV "They steeked doors, they steeked yetts, They steeked them a' but a little wicket, "Now quhere's the Lady of this castle?" Old Ballad. THE party were received with the loudest acclamations of joy by the good old ladies ; and even the Laird seemed to have forgotten that his son had refused to breed black cattle, and that his daughter-in-law was above the management of her household. The usual salutations were scarcely over, when Miss Grizzy, flying to her little writing-box, pulled out a letter, and, with an air of importance, having enjoined silence, she read as follows: LETTER : "LOCHMARLIE CASTLE, "DEAR CHILD,-Sir Sampson's stomach has been as bad as it could well be, but not so bad as your roads. He was shook to a jelly. My petticoat will never do. Mrs. M'Hall has had a girl. I wonder what makes people have girls ; they never come to good-Boys may go to the mischief, and be good for something-if girls go, they're good for nothing I know of. I never saw such roads. I suppose Glenfern means to bury you all in the highway-there are holes enough to make your graves, and stones big enough for coffins. You must all come, and spend Tuesday here—not all, but some of you-you, dear child, and your brother, and a sister, and your pretty niece, and handsome nephew-I love handsome people.-Miss M'Kraken has bounced away with her father's footman. I hope he will clean his knives on her. Come early, and come dressed, to your loving friend, 6 ISABELLA MACLAUGHLAN.” "Of The letter ended, a volley of applause ensued, which at length gave place to consultation. course, we all go—at least as many as the carriage will hold we have no engagements, and there can be no objections." Lady Juliana had already frowned a contemptuous refusal, but in due time it was changed to a sullen assent, at the pressing entreaties of her husband, to whom any place was now preferable to home. In truth, the mention of a party had more weight with her than either her husband's wishes or her aunt's remonstrances; and they had assured her, that she should meet with a large assemblage of the very first company at Lochmarlie Castle. The day appointed for the important visit arrived; and it was arranged that two of the elder ladies, and one of the young ones, should accompany Lady Juliana in her barouche, which Henry was to drive. At peep of dawn, the ladies were astir, and at eight o'clock breakfast was hurried over, that they might begin the preparations necessary for appearing with dignity at the shrine of this their patron saint. At eleven they reappeared in all the majesty of sweeping silk-trains, and well-powdered toupees. In outward show, Miss Becky was not less elaborate; the united strength and skill of her three aunts and four sisters, had evidently been exerted in forcing her hair into every position but that for which nature had intended it; curls stood on end around her forehead, and tresses were dragged up from the roots, and formed into a club on the crown; her arms had been strapped back till her elbows met, by means of a pink ribbon of no ordinary strength or doubtful hue. Three hours were passed in all the anguish of full dressed impatience; an anguish in which every female breast must be ready to sympathise. But Lady Juliana sympathised in no one's distresses but her own, and the difference of waiting in high dress or in déshabille, was a distinction to her inconceivable. But those to whom to be dressed is an event, will readily enter into the feeling of the ladies in question, as they sat, walked, wondered, exclaimed, opened windows, wrung their hands, adjusted their dress, etc., etc., during the three tedious hours they were doomed to wait the appearance of their niece. Two o'clock came, and with it Lady Juliana, as if purposely to testify her contempt, in a loose morning dress and mob cap. The sisters looked blank with disappointment; for having made themselves mistresses of the contents of her Ladyship's wardrobe, they had settled amongst themselves that the most suitable dress for the |