mirers to bestow them on. She would never do to be the wife of such a jealous Turk as I am; so I believe I must make her over to you, Willoughby."

"There is no perfection, my dear Brooke, in this world," said Willoughby," and we must just be contented to take the fair sex with what portion of merit nature is plea sed to bestow on them. However, I had no cause to complain of the taciturnity of my companion. She was vastly agreeable, and I suspect would have been much more so, had not that fellow Spencer been at her elbow, to keep her on her good behaviour."

"For my part," said Ashley, "give me a woman who does not require to be reminded of good behaviour. I can't say I should like to be Propriety-remembrancer to my wife; and if that wife was Miss Lennox, I much fear the office would be no sinecure." Why don't you call him out, Spencer?" said Willoughby, laughing.

"Because," said he, "I have heard of the fable of the Fox and the Grapes."

"Bravo, Spencer!" said Brooke. "I don't know what the sweet passion of love will do next; but certainly miracles have not ceased, since it has made Ashley an orator and you a wit. I tremble lest my turn is coming."

"I shall certainly think with you,” said Spencer, "that miracles have not ceased, when you become modest."

"The tables are turned against us now, Brooke," said Willoughby; "and as the bottles are out, and Sol is not yet asleep, what think you of a stroll on the Sands?— I am anxious to renew the acquaintance with our fair companions, and as I am just in the humour for a little innocent diversion this evening, let us be gone, and trust to that jilt, Fortune, to throw them in our way. Should we have the good luck to meet them, I shall leave you undisturbed, to gain an interest in the affections of your favourite, while I attach myself to her sparkling and animated relative."

The party dispersed, each to seek amusement in the way most congenial to his taste. And we shall leave them for the present, to see what our friends in Hope Street have been doing during our absence.

an answer.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Falstaff. Well, thou wilt be horribly chid to-morrow, when thou comest to thy father; if thou love me, practise K. Henry Fourth. Rosalind. O coz, coz, coz, my pretty little coz, that thou didst know how many fathom deep I am in love! As You Like it.

As soon as Catherine and Ellinor had parted with their escorts, and had reached their apartment, the latter exclaimed, “Did you ever know anything so delightful ? You may thank me for becoming acquainted with them; for had I not appeared much more terrified than I really was, they never would have thought of taking the least notice of us. But you have not told me what you think of him."

"Him?" said Catherine, smiling, "I thought there were two ?"

"O!" said Ellinor, " you are always so particular. You might just have supposed that I meant both, though I happened to speak of one. But really, I believe I must have the candour to confess, I was thinking only of him; that is to say, the Major. Do you know, he is a very handsome man, and remarkably agreeable.-Don't you think I become this bonnet tolerably?" she continued, while untying it at the glass." Yes, I think blue suits my complexion.-How glum Spencer looked! I begin to suspect that my gentleman has purposely prevented us from getting acquainted with his brother officers. If I find out that my suspicions are just, I shall let Mr Spencer know what I think of his selfish behaviour. I am sure he must have some such reason for not asking Charles to the mess. Ah! I am sure I have hit it."

"You are wrong there," said Catherine; "we were both present when he asked Charles to dine with him."

"Yes, to be sure, he asked him in a general kind of way, to come any day that was