s dignified with the name of laundry'Bless me, Ellinor! I really think the ouses and offices in P seem built for other race,-dwarfs only could find room to move in this apartment."

They had just quitted the laundry, when the voice of Catherine arrested their progress."Aunt, aunt," she said, "my uncle is anxious that you should tell him if you ink the dining-room is as large as our library. He seems to think it much about the same size. You had better be of that opizion too."

Sir Thomas need not send to ask my pinion, he always knows so much better than any other person."

"Oh! but do pray agree with him,” exlaimed both girls at the same time.

“Think of this small house," said Caherine," when you feel inclined to hold an pinion inimical to his."

"And remember Hope Street," said ElDT.

Thus counselled and watched, for both of

them kept close to her ladyship's elbow, she once more proceeded to the dining-room, where she found the baronet.-" Come away," said he, as his lady entered, closely followed by her two guards. "Don't you think this room is much about the size of our library? I do not imagine there is much difference, if any.-How many feet did you say, Mr Chapel ?”

66

Eighteen by twenty-one," was the re

Eighteen by twenty-one, did you say? Ah! that is just about the library. Don't you think so, Lady Lennox ?"

Catherine and Ellinor awaited her answer with ill-disguised anxiety. But, for once in her life, her ladyship thought she would agree with her husband.

"Yes, my dear," she replied, "it is, as you say, just about the size of the library."

Sir Thomas looked his astonishment, that his lady should so readily agree with him ; but, with the view of ascertaining how long the novelty would last, he added, “ I don't

Low, either; I should rather imagine that że library is a little longer; for, you know, te bow-window projects considerably. Yes, how I look again, the library is certainly longer."

"I daresay you are right," replied her ladyship, to the no small amazement of Sir Thomas. "The bow-window does project considerably, and the library is a little, but a very little, longer."

"Now I think of it," said Sir Thomas, to try how far the complaisance of his lady would go," Now I think of it again, the library cannot be any larger than this room. No, no," he continued, shaking his head, they must be of the same size. Don't you think so, Lady Lennox ?"

Well, perhaps they are," replied his lady," and the bow-window probably deceived me."

Sir Thomas could not conceal his wonder at what all this could possibly mean. But the girls, charmed that her ladyship had acquitted herself so much to their sa

tisfaction, and fearing that, should they remain much longer together, something might occur to interrupt this uncommon harmony, proposed that, as they had seen all the house, they should adjourn to some of the others. Sir Thomas, not having recovered from his surprise at the conduct of his lady, and not being prepared to oppose this proposal, consented; and the party once more seated themselves in the carriage, and drove to Claremont Place.

CHAPTER III.

"He has the true masculine contempt of our frail sex, I see," said the Countess.

Peveril of the Peak.

"THESE are nice-looking houses," said Sir Thomas, as they entered that very neat and regular street; " and I hope, Lady Lennox, we shall find, in some one of them, a larder sufficiently dry to meet with the approbation even of your fastidious————-”

"Oh! uncle,” cried Catherine, in horror that the conversation had taken this turn, "do look at that nice shop at the foot of the street. How clean and neat everything appears to be!"

Before Sir Thomas could reply to this ruse de guerre, they stopped at one of the houses; and as Mr Chapel was already there to admit them, the baronet handed the la