scrape that our prudish cousin there has brought us into."

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Catherine," said Charles, with great gravity, with a view of reproving Ellinor, whom he knew to be the real culprit-"Catherine, I could not have believed this possible; but seriously, my dear cousin, I hope that the very unpleasant embarrassments which this deviation from propriety has occasioned, will, for the future, prevent you from erring in a similar manner. Were this piece of thoughtless folly by any chance to reach the ears of Sir Thomas, think of the subterfuges you must have recourse to, which ought always to be held in abhorrence by every upright mind, to prevent him from discovering the truth; and may the distress which I plainly perceive you experience at the bare idea of a disclosure, effectually prevent a similar occurrence."

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Come, come, Mr Father Confessor," said Ellinor laughing, but at the same time colouring at Charles's reproof, which she saw was intended for her-" Come, you

have sufficiently exorcised the evil spirit of impropriety; but at present I must remind you of what you seem to have forgot,-to wit, that we stand more in need of advice than of a sermon; so make haste, and tell us how we are to avoid Miss Kennedy's tongue."

“Well, Ellinor," said Charles, " for once I will assist you out of this scrape; but for once only. You or Catherine must keep Sir Thomas in play, while I undertake to enact the beau to the old lady."

"And be sure, Charles," said Ellinor, "to watch if the conversation turns towards the stage-coach, and ward it off as dexterously as possible. possible. I have half a mind to scald her little, impertinent, inquisitive, unruly member, with a cup of boiling tea; it would keep her quiet for one night at least, and that is all we want."

CHAPTER XXI.

Janet. That's a tale now, Katie! Ah, wae's me! Katie. Ay, there's news for you, Janet. It's just the haill town's clatter at this moment.

TENNANT'S Cardinal Beaton.

" I TELL you, you are misinformed,” said Miss Macdonald to one of the half dozen of visitors who were assembled in her drawing-room, to rifle, not their neighbours' pockets, but their characters-" you are really quite mistaken in the affair, for I had the whole particulars from my friend Miss Martin, who had it from Mrs Mead, whose husband had it from the respectable old gentleman to whom Miss Lennox behaved with such glaring impropriety; and Mrs Mead says that

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I don't care a farthing,” replied Miss

Barton, "what she says; I think I should know as much about the affair as Mrs Mead; for my aunt, Mrs Macgruther, was in the coach at the time the quarrel happened, which was occasioned by one of the gentlemen, (for they had two with them, that I know for a fact,) saying to Miss Lennox, I bet you a pair of gloves, that you won't venture to pull that old gentleman's nose who is asleep there in the corner, which the old man overhearing, for he was no more asleep than we are at this moment, but had only pretended to sleep, that he might hear all that was said-which makes the old proverb good, that listeners never hear any good of themselves;' but, as I was saying, he started up in a great rage, and asked, in a very sharp tone, what harm his nose did them? what business they had to bet upon what did not belong to them? and swore a terrible oath, that he would toss the first person out of the window who dared so much as to look at his nose, and my aunt said"

"Your aunt said,” replied Miss Macdonald, no longer able to keep silence; "your aunt's a gossiping blockhead, as all the world knows."

My aunt a blockhead! my aunt a blockhead! Is this a thing to tell a niece? Upon my word, Miss Macdonald, I don't understand such language."

"It is of no great consequence whether you understand it or not; but do not let us waste time on our petty quarrels, when I have such an extraordinary one to relate. I can assure you, ladies, that I had the whole from the very best authority, and the quarrel originated thus:-Miss Lennox's companion, who was one of the dragoons, asked her if she wished the glass next her put down, to which she assented, saying, the day was uncommonly close and warm ; but when the officer was in the act of putting down the window, an elderly gentleman, sitting opposite Miss Lennox, begged that she would allow it to remain up, as he had a very severe toothach and earach;