to court the suffrage of any one, or thinking it at all necessary to appear pleased when she did not feel so. Neither did she administer to the vanity of man, by those little tender engrossments which Ellinor knew so well how to practise, and which have turned, and will continue to turn, as long as the world turns, the heads of the very wisest and most cautious of the lords of the creation. How, then, thought Ellinor, does it happen, that she constantly receives that respect which I cannot command? I am sometimes tempted to be jealous of her; yet how absurd for Ellinor Lennox to fear Catherine Dundas! The only way in which I can account for this strange phenomenon is, that, while Catherine creates only friendship, Ellinor in. spires love. Yes, yes, I have solved the riddle now. Well, I make her welcome to her cold friendship-I shall not quarrel with it. And, soothing her mortified vanity with this salvo, she strove to drive the subject from her thoughts, and generally succeeded,

until some new offence of some one or other of her admirers recalled it to her recollection.

When the ladies reached the end of Hope Street, they found they had just saved their distance;-one minute later, and the coach would have been at the door, which so frightened Ellinor, that she determined to leave her watch in town, to have its motions quickened, (that being the culprit on the present occasion,) lest they should not be so fortunate as again to escape, should they be tempted to repeat the offence.

As soon as they were seated, they began to take a survey of their travelling companions. A stupid, heavy-looking man, who seemed scarcely half awake, sat next to Catherine, and opposite to Ellinor. Near him was seated a middle-aged woman, (a period of life which I shall leave my readers to fix, as I have never yet been able to do so myself,) whose vinegar-aspect bid defiance to the various attempts of a well-fed, well

pleased, talkative neighbour, who in vain tried to draw her into conversation, to the no small amusement of a very intelligentlooking young man, who sat on Ellinor's left. At length, growing tired of hearing only her own voice, she turned to Ellinor, and remarked, that it was a beautiful day. Ellinor politely agreed with her; but added, she thought it rather chill. On hearing this remark, the young gentleman asked if she would wish the windows up. She had hardly given her bow of assent to this, when Catherine's neighbour, who was not so sound asleep as to prevent his hearing this horrific proposal, commenced a warm expostulation against the measure.

" "Tis most injurious to the health to breathe in a elose atmosphere; and if you, maʼam,” he said, addressing Ellinor, “will have a little patience, you will find the chillness you complain of soon go off; and, in the meantime, if you please, we shall put down the window again."

Ellinor's champion, however, was deter

mined, that, as she wished the window up, up it should go; and said, "That those who liked to breathe a freer air might go to it; but that he certainly thought no gentleman would insist on keeping a window down, to the annoyance of a lady."

"I suppose, young man," said his enraged opponent," by your complaisance, you never had the asthma? I tell you, I cannot breathe without air; and if you persist in your obstinacy, you will have my death to answer for ;" and, by way of confirmation, he was seized with such a violent fit of coughing, that Ellinor, in terror, exclaimed, “ I beg, sir, you will put the window down. I assure you I feel quite warm now."-The stranger complied.

It was some time before any one spoke; but at length the fat lady said to Ellinor, "Portibelly is very full this season. It has been a fine bathing season. A family of some distinction have lately come to stay some months. They have taken a house in Hope Street. They are very gay people,

and will keep Portibelly in conversation for

a while."

"Indeed!" said Ellinor.

their name?"

"What is

"The family I mean," she replied, "is Sir Thomas Lennox's; and there are such various reports about them, one hardly knows which to believe."

"What may these be ?" said Ellinor, assuming an unconcerned look.

"We should not believe above half of what we hear; but they do say, that this Sir Thomas Lennox is eaten up with pride, and that his wife's a poor heart-broken woman, who has not a word to say in her own house; and that her daughter does nothing but look in her glass, and flirt with officers; and that the son is a very extravagant youth, and very nearly as proud as his father. But I hear the niece very well spoken of. They say she has more humility than the whole family put together; and I think she has need of it, for she has a sad time of it in that house, poor thing. She makes all