CHAPTER XXIII.

Heavens! can this be the self-same set?
So courteously received?-

London Lyrics.

"WHERE have you been all this morning?" said Lady Lennox, as Ellinor and Catherine entered the room-" you have been out a monstrous time. I thought, Catherine, that you intended to begin the green fringe to-day; and I think this long walk was rather ill-timed."

"I shall just go and take off my bonnet, and then begin to it directly," replied Catherine.

“You may begin to it directly, but it will not be finished so very soon. It certainly

cannot be put up to-night, which is a great disappointment to me."

"Oh, mamma," said Ellinor, "what does it signify, whether the drapery is put up today or to-morrow ?-I wish you would not plague yourself about these matters; and besides, Catherine is tired, and I want her to assist me in making up a cap for this evening-I mean to be quite irresistible, for the purpose of spiting that old witch Miss Kennedy-by the by, I understand she has just been here-I hope she came to apologise for not taking tea here to-night." "Now I think of it," replied Lady Lennox, "you and Catherine ought not to have nox," gone out without inquiring whether or not I chose to receive visitors.-Miss Kennedy came at a most inconvenient time, just when I was showing Campbell how I wished the drapery to hang-It was really very foolish of you both to go out-I fear, Ellinor, you will never learn to think of the comfort of other people-but, bless me, does Catherine require all this time to take off her bonnet?

I dare say she has been gone half an hour -What can the girl be about ?"

"Indeed, mamma, she has not been gone half a minute, and, I assure you, taking off a bonnet is not such a very simple affair as you imagine, for, after taking it off, she must put it aside, as she cannot bear things to be out of their proper places; and then she has her hair to arrange, and her curls to comb out-But here she comes, fringeloom, and all.”

"I request

Catherine," said Charles, that you will inform me whether it is less fatiguing to trim a cap than to work some yards of fringe?"

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Why should you wish to know anything about caps and fringes ?" said Catherine, smiling.

"I asked the question merely from a desire to serve you."

"And, pray,

how should your knowledge of these intricate points benefit me?" "Of that I shall soon inform you—Ellinor insists that you are too much fatigued

to finish the fringe on which my mother appears to have set her heart, but she thinks you are perfectly able to trim her cap, which she means to sport this evening; and I think that you are fit for neither."

"I hope," said Catherine, laughing, "that I shall have strength for both."

"But not time," said her ladyship. "I hope, Catherine, that you will finish one thing first. I don't see why Ellinor cannot trim her own cap, or give it to Campbell, when she has finished the drapery."

For that matter," replied Ellinor, pettishly," it is of no consequence whether I appear at tea or not; I shall be quite as well pleased to escape the party altogether, only I know papa will make a fine rumpus if I am absent."

My dear aunt," said Catherine, "I do assure you that I shall very soon work the quantity of fringe you want; you know it is quickly done. And do you, Ellinor, have your lace ready, I shall want it very

soon."

Catherine's never-failing good humour having once more restored harmony between the contending powers, she cheerfully continued her employment, while her ladyship, by way of rewarding her for her assiduity, sat down beside her, and recounted the wonders of the morning, and the occasion of Miss Kennedy's visit. Ellinor was in violent indignation when she heard the remarks of Miss Kennedy, and vowed vengeance against the author of these calumnies. She had not exclaimed against her half enough before the dinner bell rung, at which the girls were by no means sorry, as they saw her ladyship prepared to go over her grievances once more, when the welcome sound broke up the divan.

"Do you think," said Ellinor, as she and Catherine were dressing for tea, "that there is any chance of our getting a walk tonight? But see, Catherine, you have made this lace too deep at the ears; you know I do not look so well when they are covered, -do tie the ribbon a little tighter behind,