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At last George took upon himself to be spokesman.

"The Post-office ?" said she. "O, aye; weel do I ken where that is; it's just a wee bit farther east. Gang on till you come to a muckle shop wi' a window, and that's the Post-office."

George drove on as directed; but, most unfortunately, he happened to drive a few steps past the door of the shop, which Sir Thomas observing, thrusting his head once more out of the window, he asked George if he was blind, and where the devil he was driving to? At length they stopped at the Post-office, and having inquired at Mrs Oldlands to whom they should apply, she, with her usual civility, sent a person to show them where Mr Chapel lived, and they followed their guide. Having seen a list of the houses which were to let, they first bent their steps to King Street, which, as Sir Thomas was a stanch Tory, his family alleged he had preferred on account of its name. Be that as it may, to King

Street they went, and Mr Chapel having
opened the door of a neat but small house,
the party entered.

"Is this the dining-room?" inquired
Lady Lennox, on entering a small apart-
ment. "It is much too small for our fa-
mily; this will never suit us."

“Tis by no means a small room,” replied her better half, who generally made a point of holding an opposite opinion to his lady. "Tis by no means an uncomfortable apartment. We must not expect in a village like this the same accommodation as in Edinburgh. Are there any cellars?" he asked, addressing Mr Chapel.

"No, sir," was the reply.

"That is rather unfortunate," said Sir
"for I doubt we cannot do with-

Thomas

out cellars."

"Even although there were cellars," rejoined the impolitic Lady Lennox," this house would never suit our family. I observe there are no attics, and no lower story." "Oh that my mother would but be si

lent!" thought Ellinor; " for, if she utters another syllable, we are undone, and delightful Hope Street must be relinquished for this dull hole." She looked at her cousin in absolute despair. Catherine understood the glance, and, taking her ladyship's arm, she said, "Come, aunt, you and I will take a look at the drawing-room, and when Sir Thomas and Ellinor have been through the under story, they can join us up stairs."

Lady Lennox, glad of an opportunity to vent her displeasure, which the presence of her lord and master was apt to restrain, followed Catherine up stairs, and, as soon as she thought she was out of the hearing of her spouse, she began: "Really, Catherine, your uncle sometimes speaks great nonsense. Did you ever hear such folly, as his saying that this house would accommodate our family? The thing is absolutely impossible. I am surprised that a man, who pretends to have common sense, should propose such a thing. 1 am sure 'tis a merey there are no cellars; for had there been but one,

though only the size of a pigeon-hole, Sir Thomas would have crammed us all together in this nut-shell. And just look here, Catherine; I am positive this room smokes. I see the marks of it upon the walls. Our clothes will be completely ruined. Smoke is destruction to everything. The furniture, too, is but poor," added she, examining the window-curtains with the eye of a critic.

"But," said Catherine," what does that signify for a few months? I should imagine that plain furniture was a very great advantage; for I should always be afraid to use the smallest freedom with fine fur

niture."

ing to the demand for them; and you know we heard this is to be a very full season."

"All nonsense, I dare say," rejoined her ladyship. "They merely circulate that report to keep up the rents."

This debate was interrupted by the voice of Sir Thomas, bawling to his lady to come down stairs, and see what an excellent kitchen was below; for although the baronet seldom consulted his wife and family in domestic matters, and taking them with him to choose a house was merely a French compliment, he liked to have them at his heels, either that he might make his remarks to them, or that he might enjoy the pleasure of contradicting and of being contradicted -of pleasing himself and of disappointing his opponents.

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As they descended the stair, to obey this summons, Catherine whispered her ladyship, Now, aunt, should my uncle praise the house, and seem inclined to take it, you had better agree with him; for, should you op