was your opinion," replied Catherine, smiling; you gave her a very cordial recep tion." 66 "How could I do otherwise? you would not have me rude in my own house?-a pretty world it would be if we were to say openly all we thought of each other. But if I was too frank, I must say you did not err on that side." "I was not sensible of being graver than usual; but it is not in my nature to be kind to people whom I neither love nor respect, and Maria Bertram is one of them." "Who were these visitors?" asked Charles on entering the room; "I saw a carriage at the door." "The intolerable Bertrams," replied Ellinor; "I am glad they are gone." "Was my little flirting friend, Maria, here?" “Oh yes, and I dare say as ready to flirt Why did you not appear ?" as ever. "I was otherwise engaged; besides, one does not care to flirt with a girl who flirts with everybody; she is very well when she comes in one's way, but I would not go three steps out of my road to meet with her." "What an ungrateful race you belong to!" said Catherine, smiling. 66 Very true, Catherine, our sex don't value what any one may have; if you ladies knew your own interest, you would be very sparing of your favours." 66 Charles," said Ellinor, "did you ever meet with a Major Willoughby, who is in the same regiment with that fellow Spencer? Maria Bertram says he is the handsomest man in existence, and that all the ladies are at daggers-drawing about him." "And do you also mean to take the field?" said Charles, laughing; " but pray, why is poor Spencer that fellow to-day? Do you mean to turn him to the right-about to make way for the handsome Major ?" "Indeed," replied Ellinor, "I think he richly deserves to be turned off for being so selfish as to monopolize our agreeable so ciety. But you have not answered my question-I wish to know if you have ever met this Willoughby?" "Never, Ellinor, and I assure you I am not at all desirous of the honour of his acquaintance." "Oh, that is all envy, because he is admired by the ladies. Catherine and I are dying with impatience for an introduction.” "Pray, don't drag my name in," said Catherine, smiling, while Charles anxiously waited for her reply; "I care as little about the Major as Charles does." "I don't believe you," rejoined Ellinor; "but there is the dinner bell; Catherine, bring down the Army List with you-I want to look at it." Capulet. Now, fellow, what's there? Serv. Things for the cook, sir; but I know not what. Serv. I have a head, sir, that will find out logs, And never trouble Peter for the matter. Romeo and Juliet. "BRING coals," exclaimed Sir Thomas Lennox to William, whom a more than usually hasty peal had summoned into his 66 presence, bring coals directly, and keep all the doors shut; it rains a perfect deluge." "Yes, sir," replied William, as he withdrew, while the baronet returned to his book, in the full expectation that William would bring, without loss of time, the supply of coals of which his fire, in its then expiring state, stood so much in need. Full half an hour had elapsed since Sir Thomas had issued his commands for a fresh upply of fuel, and still no William appeared, when his master, who had been so engrossed by the perusal of a new political pamphlet as totally to forget whether or not his order had been obeyed, feeling now rather cold, thought he would give the fire a gentle hint to burn a little more briskly; but words are inadequate to express his surprise and rage, when an empty grate, whose gaping bars "grinned horrible a ghastly smile,” met his astonished sight. "What can that idle scoundrel mean?" exclaimed the hasty baronet, as he rose to summon the culprit into his offended pre"I told him to bring coals more than an hour ago; no wonder I am colddevil a cinder even is in the grate, and in such a day too! I shall let the fellow hear of this." A thundering peal brought up William. "Did not I tell you, sir," exclaimed his indignant master, bursting with rage, "did not I tell you at least an hour ago to bring coals? What is the reason, sir, that you |