wrong side of the hill--there's no denying that; but then, there's I can't tell you how many thousand acres of fine muir for shooting, and I daresay Colonel Lennox is a keen sportsman; and they say, a great deal of it might be very much improved. We must really inquire after it, Mary, and you must speak to Colonel Lennox about it, for you know such a property as that may be snap in a minute."

ped up

Mary assented to all that was said; and Grizzy proceeded—

"I wonder you never brought Colonel Lennox to see us, Mary: I'm sure he must think it very odd. To be sure, Sir Sampson's situation is some excuse; but, at any rate, I wonder you never spoke about him. We all found out your aunt Bella's attachment from the very first, just from her constantly speaking about Major M'Tavish and the militia; and we had a good guess of Betsy's too, from the day her face turned so red after giving Captain

M'Nab for her toast.; but you have really kept your's very close, for, I declare, I ne ver once suspected such a thing. I wonder if that was Colonel Lennox that I saw you part with at the door one day: tall, and with brown hair, and a blue coat. I asked Lady M'Laughlan if she knew who it was, and she said it was Admiral Benbow; but I think she must have been mistaken, for I daresay, now, it was just Colonel Lennox. Lennox-I'm sure I should be able to remember something about somebody of that name; but my memory's not so good as it used to be, for I have so many things, you know, to think about, with Sir Sampson, that, I declare, sometimes my head's quite confused; yet I think always there's something about them. I wish to goodness Lady M'Laughlan was come from the dentist's, that I might consult her about it; for, of course, Mary, you'll do nothing without consulting all your friends: I know you've too much sense for that. And here's

Sir Sampson coming ;. it will be a fine piece of news to tell him."

Sir Sampson having been now wheeled in by the still active Philistine, and properly arranged, with the assistance of Miss Grizzy, she took her usual station by the side of his easy chair, and began to shout into his ear.

"Here's my neice Mary, Sir Sampson; you remember her when she was little, I daresay you know you used to call her the fairy of Lochmarlie; and I'm sure we all thought for long she would have been a perfect fairy, she was so little; but she's tall enough now, you see, and she's going to be married to a fine young man-none of us know him yet, but I think I must have seen him; and, at any rate, I'm to see him to-morrow, and you will see him too, Sir Sampson, for Mary is to bring him to call here, and he'll tell you all about the battle of Waterloo, and the Highlanders; for he's half a Highlander too, and I'm certain he'll

buy the Dhuanbog estate; and then when my niece Mary marries Colonel Lennox-"

"Lennox!" repeated Sir Sampson, his little dim eyes kindling at the name "Who talks of Lennox ?-I-I won't suffer it.Where's my Lady?-Lennox!-he's a scoundrel!-you shan't marry a Lennox!”—Turning to Grizzy, "Call Philistine, and my dy." And his agitation was so great, that even Grizzy, although accustomed for forty years to witness similar ebullitions, became alarmed.1

La

"You see it's all for fear of my marrying," whispered she to Mary: "I'm sure such a disinterested attachment, it's impossible for me ever to repay it!"

Then turning to Sir Sampson, she sought to sooth his perturbation by oft-repeated assurances, that it was not her but her niece Mary that was going to be married to Colonel Lennox: But in vain; Sir Sampson quivered, and panted, and muttered; and the louder Grizzy screamed out the

truth, the more his irritation increased. Recourse was now had to Philistine; and Mary, thoroughly ashamed of the eclat attending the disclosure of her secret, and finding she could be of no use, stole away in the midst of Miss Grizzy's endless verbiage; but as she descended the stairs, she still heard the same assurance resounding"I can assure you, Sir Sampson, it's not me, but my niece Mary that's going to be married to Colonel Lennox," &c.

On returning to Beech Park, she said nothing of what had passed either to Lady Emily or Colonel Lennox-aware of the amusement it would furnish to both; and she felt that her aunt required all the dignity with which she could invest her, before presenting her to her future nephew. The only delay to her marriage now rested with herself; but she was desirous it should take place under the roof which had sheltered her infancy, and sanctioned by the presence of those whom she had ever