"And did you not tell a falsehood ?" "Whether I did or not, is not the present question; but I dare say, if the truth were known, you would find, with all your prudery, that I tell no more than my neighbours."

Catherine, finding it was useless to argue with one who owned no rule of conduct but her own caprice, forbore to reply to this lite observation, and allowed the subject to drop.

po

CHAPTER XIII.

God bless my ladies! are they all in love?

Love's Labour's Loat.

Women often think themselves in love, when, in fact, they are only coquetting.

ROCHEFOUCAULT.

NEXT day, when the cousins were seated at work, "There are the Bertrams," said Catherine, as a very handsome carriage stopped at the door," and I think I see Maria at the window."

"What brings them here to torment us?" replied Ellinor; "I am sure we see quite enough of them in town-I can't endure any of them, but Maria I absolutely detest."

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Hush, hush, they are coming up stairs, and will hear you."

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My dear Maria," exclaimed Ellinor,

how do you do?-I was just wondering what had become of you-but I am happy you have found your way here at last.”

Why," replied Maria," we have been talking of coming to see you every day for the last month; but, somehow or other, we have been prevented from getting it accomplished till to-day; but, pray, how do you get on here?"

"Oh," replied Ellinor, "what with bathing, walking, and reading novels, we contrive to get through the day tolerably well; but, if I may put a similar question, pray, how have you been employing yourself?"

"Disagreeably enough, as you may suppose, when I tell you I spent a fortnight lately at my uncle Montgomery's, and a stupid enough fortnight it was in all conscience; I yawned the whole time-don't you think my mouth is a great deal wider?"

But," rejoined Ellinor, "I thought your cousins were pleasant girls, and that you were very fond of them ?"

"Me fond of them!-no, no, I never could

endure your pattern misses, who imagine they must neither eat, sleep, nor talk like other people. My noble cousins are excellent specimens of the detestable tribe. It would amuse you to see them-they all sit bolt upright, and would not say a word out of joint for a thousand worlds. They grow pale at a flirtation; and as to scandal, dear scandal, they would not give you the least morsel, for any consideration."

"What nonsense is that you are talking, Maria?" said her sister. "Miss Lennox, you must not mind her rattle."

"Oh," replied Maria, carelessly, "I am only talking of our buckram cousins the Montgomerys, and saying what a stupid set they are."

"How can you say so," rejoined her sister," when you know they are a highly accomplished and amiable family ?"

"Oh, you think so because they are Henry's sisters; but as I have not your reason for liking them, I candidly confess I think them pedantic disagreeable women."

Miss Bertram coloured and remained silent, but Maria continued to rattle on. "We passed two very handsome dragoon officers on our way here," exclaimed Maria, as she drew in her chair to lunch; "do you know any of the men of this regiment?"

“Yes,” replied Ellinor, "we are very intimately acquainted with Captain Spencer; he is a very pleasant young man."

Spencer? yes, he's so so,-rather too much of a fop; and then, poor fellow, his heart is as tender as the wing of this chicken-be is always in love with some one or other?"

"In my opinion," said Ellinor, piqued at hearing her lover spoken of in such terms, "he is not a man who would be very easily caught."

“Then, my dear, you know nothing about the matter; why, he went through a whole family with whom I am acquainted, beginning at the youngest, and none of them would have him.-But Major Willoughby is the prize of that regiment. Oh, he is