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much; but I find it very low indeed-absolutely below nothing.”

Mary now did look up in some surprise; but she hastily withdrew from the intolerable expression of her cousin's eyes.

"Dear Lady Emily! cried she, in a deprecating tone.

"Well-what more? You can't suppose I'm to put up with hearing my own name; I've heard that fifty times to-day already from Lady Juliana's parrot-come, your face speaks volumes. I read a declaration of love in the colour of your cheeks-a refusal in the height of your nose-remorse in the twinkling of your eye-a sort of general agitation in the quiver of your lip-and the déréglement of your hair. Now your pulse-a leettle hasty, as Dr. Redyour tongue declare

for

gill would

the rest."

say; but let

Mary would fain have concealed the cause of her distress from every human being, as she felt as if degraded still lower by repeat

ing it to another; and she remained silent, struggling with her emotions.

"'Pon my honour, Mary, you really do use great liberties with my patience and good nature. I appeal to yourself whether I might not just as well have been reading one of Tully's orations to a mule all this while. Come, you must really make haste to tell your tale, for I am dying to disclose mine. Or, shall I begin? No-that would be inverting the order of nature or custom, which is the same thing beginning with the farce and ending with the tragedyso commencez au commencement, m'amie."

Thus urged, Mary at length, and with much hesitation, related to her cousin the humiliation she had experienced. "And

after all," said she, as she ended, "I am afraid I behaved very like a fool-and yet what could I do? In my situation, what would you have done?"

"Done! why, I should have taken the old woman by the shoulders, and cried Boh!

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in her ear. And so this is the mighty matter! You happen to overhear Mrs. Lennox, good old soul! recommending you as a wife to her son-What could be more natural? except his refusing to fall head and ears in love before he had time to pull his boots off. And then to have a wife recommended to him! and all your perfections set forth, as if you had been a laundry maid: an early riser, neat worker, regular attender upon church! Ugh!-I must say, I think his conduct quite meritorious. I could almost find in my heart to fall in love with him myself, were it for no other reason than because he is not such a Tommy Goodchild as to be in love at his mamma's bidding-that is, loving his mother as he does-for I see he could cut off a hand, or pluck out an eye, to please her, though he can't or won't give her his heart and soul to dispose of as she thinks proper."

"You quite misunderstand me," said Mary, with increasing vexation, "I did

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not mean to say any thing against Colonel I did not wish-I never once

Lennox.

thought whether he liked me or not."

"That says very little for you: You must have a very bad taste if you care more for the mother's liking than the son's. Then, what vexes you so much? Is it at having made the discovery, that your good old friend is a-a-I beg your pardon—a bit of a goose? Well, never mind-since you don't care for the man, there's no mischief done. You have only to change the dramatis persona. Fancy that you overheard me recommending you to Dr. Redgill for your skill in cookery-you'd only have laughed at that-so why should you weep at t'other. However, one thing I must tell you, whether it adds to your grief or not, I did remark that Charles Lennox looked

very

lover-like towards you; and, indeed, this sentimental passion he has put you in, becomes you excessively. I really never

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saw you look so handsome before-it has given an energy and esprit to your countenance, which is the only thing it wants. You are very much obliged to him, were it only for having kindled such a fire in your eyes, and raised such a carnation in your cheek. It would have been long be fore good larmoyante Mrs. Lennox would have done as much for you. I shouldn't wonder were he to fall in love with you af ter all."

Lady Emily little thought how near she was to the truth when she talked in this random way. Colonel Lennox saw the wound he had innocently inflicted on Mary's feelings, and a warmer sentiment than any he had hitherto experienced had sprung up in his heart. Formerly, he had merely lookupon her as an amiable sweet-tempered girl; but when he saw her roused to a sense of her own dignity, and marked the struggle betwixt tender affection and offended deli

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