laid upon one of them, raised a suspicion in both the girls, that he meant more than met the ear, and that, by some chance or other, he had discovered where they had been, and who had been their companions. So far their conjectures were right; for Charles happened to be at the drawingroom window when the whole posse came down the street-his knowledge extended no farther, but observing that there was a secret, he thought the best way of getting at the bottom of it was to pretend that he knew it already. Catherine looked at Ellinor, and Ellinor at Catherine, with an expression which said, How, in the name of wonder, does he know? and Ellinor, afraid of being questioned still closer, jumped from her chair, saying, "I must be ill-bred for once in my life, for I feel so cold, I am going near the fire."

Sir Thomas looked at the grate, and in the greatest wrath he exclaimed, “I wonder these infernal wretches have not more

regard to their master's interest than to load the fire-place in such a manner;-that fire might do for a furnace. The scoundrel has done this to save himself trouble-butpull the bell, Charles."

"I don't think," said her ladyship, "the servants have got their dinner yet."

"The fellow does not deserve to dine," said the baronet. "If he had the coal-bill to pay, he would be a little less extravagant."

William obeyed the bell. "Whether did I order you," said the enraged Sir Thomas, "to heat an oven, or light a fire?" William T was silent. "Do you think, sir, that I get S my coals for nothing? It would seem so, by your being so devilishly profuse of them. Take at least two-thirds of these coals off the fire."

William retired, and soon after came back, bringing with him a large shovel. "Where is the fire-pan ?" said Lady Lennox. "Go and bring it. You will set

fire to the house, carrying live coals on a shovel. Who ever heard of such a thing?" Since he has brought the shovel," said Sir Thomas, "he may just as well put the coals on it."

William stood irresolute.

“Why don't you do as you are desired ?”

said his master.

“He will burn a hole in the carpet," said

his mistress.

"It will mend." said his master.
"Make haste, William," said Catherine.
"Don't take quite so much away," said

Ellinor.

64

Let me see," said Sir Thomas. "Oh! there is still as much left yet as would roast

an ox."

I think 1 smell burning," said Lady Lennox. "Ellinor, my dear, do see if there is any damage done. What a pity, too, the lobby-carpet is our own! I wish I had let the other one remain."

“What can keep Ellinor?" said her ladyship, after a pause.

"I dare say," answered Sir Thomas, “like a good housewife, she is busy mending this mighty hole that William has burnt!"

But as Ellinor did not come to her ladyship, her ladyship determined to go to her, and, joined by Catherine and Charles, she adjourned to the drawing-room, where they found Ellinor, seated by such a bonfire, that one would imagine William had carried the rejected coals from the dining-room of his master to the drawing-room of his mistress.

"Ellinor," said her ladyship, "why did you not return to tell me whether the carpet is burnt? I am sure, from your not returning, that there is some mischief done."

"I can assure you, mamma," said Ellinor, "your carpet is quite safe, which is the reason I thought it needless to come back."

"Sorry, I suppose," said Charles, "to be the bearer of such pleasant intelligence ;had there been a hole burnt, would you have come to tell, Ellinor ?"

"Charles," said Ellinor, " you are a tor

ment. What pleasure can you have in turning everything into ridicule? I wish a hole were burnt in you."

"Perhaps it is not to do," he replied, with a sigh; but instantly recovering himself, and turning to Catherine, he said, "My sister is for burning me. What fate do you assign me?"

"The greatest service I could do to you, Charles," she said, laughing, "would be to extinguish the flames. I make a point of extinguishing flames of every description. Flames are dangerous playthings, cousin Charles; and those who are too familiar with them are apt to get scrotched, as an old lady said. So follow my example, and fly from them."

"But it is not always in our power, Catherine. Many a man has been, as you just now elegantly expressed it, scrotched to death, without any wish or fault of his. So how would you act in such a case?"

"If I could not prevent the accident, I would at least try to cure it."