"I may then as well order the ling, in case we do not get any fresh fish-May I trouble you to pull the bell."

Ellinor's small stock of patience was now wholly exhausted. She had turned over page after page without understanding one word of what she was reading, and as she thought the riot would soon be quelled, she made no remark; but when she saw that these hopes were in vain, and that the bill of fare for their approaching dinner was now about to be discussed in full detail, she could bear it no longer, but sprung from her sofa and hurried out of the room, shutting the door behind her with such a force as to shake the whole tenement to its foundations.

CHAPTER XII.

-The fearful time

Cuts off all ceremonious vows of love,

And ample interchange of sweet discourse.

Richard the Third.

Disguise-I see thou art a wickedness.

Wilt thou love such a woman?

Twelfth Night.

As You Like it.

A CONSIDERABLE time had now elapsed since the introduction of Captain Speneer to the Lennox family, and, to his great delight, Willoughby, Brooke, and Ashley, had never thought fit to put their oft-repeated threats in execution, so that he still found himself without a competitor in the favour of Ellinor.

Whether any part of the encouragement

which he received was owing to this circumstance, time alone can determine; but certainly his attentions were anything but repelled by this beautiful and volatile girl, to whom he was becoming daily more and more attached.

As gay, and almost as giddy as Ellinor, Spencer looked not beyond the surface. Pleased with her liveliness, and enchanted with her beauty, he forgot to ask himself if she were as well adapted for soothing and consoling him in those seasons of affliction which must come to all, as she evidently was for brightening his happy hours; but he was too much in love to be rational, and too happy in her smiles to inquire whether they proceeded from gratified vanity, or from that cheerfulness of the heart which is habitual to a well-regulated mind.

"There is a soldier at the gate, and he cannot get it opened," exclaimed Ellinor, starting from her seat at the window, and pulling the bell. "I suppose he brings some message from Spencer, and that wretch,

William, must be in the laundry flirting with the damsels, in place of attending to his duty; but I will favour my gentleman with a peal which will reach his ears, or I'm mistaken." She now applied herself once more to the bell, and rung an alarum which might have awakened the enchanted sleepers.

"Why did you not come sooner ?" cried Ellinor, the moment William made his appearance.

"I came, ma'am, as soon as I heard the bell-it only rung once."

"It only rung once?-it only rung three times! See, sir, that you are more attentive in future-and open the gate to that soldier, who has been trying to get in this half hour-inquire what message he brings, and don't stay a moment.”

William in silence obeyed the imperious commands of his young mistress, and soon returned with a music-book and a note, which having presented to Ellinor, he again retired.

"It is from Spencer," said Ellinor, after perusing the card; "he is to be here to-day at one o'clock, to try over some of these trios of Mozart; so I must go and practise them before he comes." " will

"But what,” replied Catherine,

you do with Miss Ferguson? you know she is to be here at that hour to take a walk. with us."

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Upon my word, I had quite forgot that; but we can easily dispatch a note to her, saying that something has come in the way to prevent us from keeping our appointment."

"But won't that be very rude? And should she by any chance hear why we broke our engagement, she will be much offended. You had better write to Spencer that we are engaged to-day, but will be happy to see him to-morrow."

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"I shall do no such thing. He may not be able to come to-morrow; and pray, why may not to-morrow suit Miss Ferguson quite as well? I wonder why I promised to walk