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.

66

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

"That will be the most judicious plan," said Catherine, anxious to strengthen this good resolution, but very doubtful if it would

be adhered to.

himself with its

On entering the kitchen, they found it undergoing a most strict examination;every drawer and press was openly exposed to view, that Sir Thomas might acquaint purpose and dimensions. "Look here," he exclaimed, addressing his lady-" Only look here, Lady Lennox. Upon my honour, I would not wish to see a better larder; our own, in town, is not much larger. It feels so charmingly cool, that I am certain meat will keep well here." “I think it smells of damp,” replied her ladyship, forgetting her late resolution, and the caution of Catherine. "Meat would

not keep four-and-twenty hours in such place."

"Damp!" replied Sir Thomas, glad of an opportunity of differing from his lady, and proving her in the wrong. "Damp! Ha ha! poor lady! I wonder what your eyes are made of, if you call this larder damp. To me it appears as dry as a bone. Pray, where do you see any symptoms of dampness? I doubt it would puzzle you to point them out."

"I don't judge of damp by my eyes, but by my nose," said Lady Lennox, not very well pleased that her judgment should be treated thus lightly, and in the presence of so many." But hang up a leg of mutton in that same larder, which you think so mighty dry, and you will soon be of my opinion."

"Mr Chapel," said Sir Thomas, not willing that his lady should have the best of the argument," was this larder ever considered damp ?"

Mr Chapel was rather posed by this ques

2001. The gentleman insisted that it was dry, the lady said it was damp. If he gave it in favour of one, he offended the other. He therefore adopted the course which he imagined would satisfy both, by saying, he believed the larder was dry in summer, and damp in winter.

"I thought I was right," said the triumphant Sir Thomas," I am not easily deceived; and I still maintain that the larder is no more damp than I am."

Ellinor, terrified that, were there but another objection raised to anything in or out of the house, Sir Thomas would instantly secure it, said, "Come with me, mamma; I wish to take a look at the laundry, and you have not yet been there." But, ere they reached it, her ladyship again commenced the late debate.

"Ellinor," said she, " did you ever know such a strange man as that father of yours is? to say that that larder is not damp! I never heard him say such a silly thing before."

E

"Oh! mamma, what does it signify whether my father thinks the larder damp or dry?" said Ellinor, a little impatiently. "Never mind,-let him just believe that it is dry."

"But is it not vastly provoking, Ellinor," rejoined her mother, " to be told that one is in the wrong, when one knows one is perfectly in the right ?"

"I think," said Ellinor, "it would be much more provoking to be told you are in the wrong, when you are sensible you are so. You ought to console yourself with the reflection that you are in the right. I am sure I would not care a straw whether said I was right or wrong."

papa

"I beg your pardon," rejoined her ladyship; "I have no idea of submitting to be told I am wrong, when I know I am no such thing."

See, mamma," said Ellinor, sick of the subject," Look, here is the laundry."

"Bless me!" exclaimed Lady Lennox, as she got a glance of the small room, which