perhaps that will remedy it. Ah, that will do, that certainly improves it greatly. Could we manage to get quit of these pests by half-past eight o'clock, I should like to take a walk on the sands.—It is a pity they chose this fine evening for their visit. I wonder what kind of monster the nephew will turn out to be? Not worth looking at, I dare say. Do not you think it looks more graceful to leave the ribbon untied? but wait till I pin on the bow, and then you will be better able to judge of the tout ensemble. What do you say,—shall pink or blue be the order of the night? What colour do you sport?"

“Primrose, I believe," replied Cathe

rine.

"Oh, you think you become that colour; but what shall I wear?-pink or blue ?"

"Pink by all means,-you know it is my favourite colour.-But why are you so ridiculous as to wear a cap? you ought not to conceal such beautiful hair."

"If it were not half so beautiful, I would VOL. I.

probably never think of concealing it. As I know these two frights will be flaming in full dress, I mean to astonish them by appearing in an elegant dishabille. So a cap I am determined on, and be thankful it is anything half so respectable. If you say another word, I shall positively make a turban of that crimson window-curtain!"

"I rather think," said Catherine, "you are partial to a sanguine hue, a colour which generally attracts a great deal of admiration, particularly from our sex."

Ellinor laughed.

"You allude to Spencer, I perceive? Why, I must allow the wretch is bearable; but I have a presentiment that I shall desert him for the elegant Major.-Do not you think this ribbon should be a little higher? Let me look again. I think Miss Kennedy will faint with envy. These old women are always so abominably punctual," added she, as the door-bell resounded through the house; "one would imagine that they expected ladies to dress by clock

work: I verily believe she fears that if she were one minute beyond the appointed time, the cups would be turned into nut-shells and the company into mice. I must take a survey whether it actually is the old lady, and shall bring you a true report of the nephew." Saying which, she hurried to the door, but in stretching her neck over the banisters to have a better view, her cap, which she had forgotten to pin, suddenly dropped from her head, and in another moment its "blushing honours" were crushed beneath the expanded foot of Miss Kennedy.

"Heavens, my cap!" exclaimed Ellinor, forgetting, in her surprise, the awkwardness of her situation; at which exclamation Miss Kennedy and her friends, with one consent, turned up their eyes, and Ellinor hastily retreated to her apartment.

"Did you ever know anything so provoking?" said Ellinor pettishly; "I have no other

cap ready, and it will take an age to

dress my hair; I don't think I shall go down at all."

"Nonsense," replied Catherine.

" I

dare say the cap is as good as ever; and if the bow should be crushed, you can easily replace it by a blue one, which I think you become equally well."

This being at last arranged to their mu- · tual satisfaction,-" Make haste," cried Ellinor," and pin my gown; we shall have a summons directly, if papa is in the drawing-room, for he thinks it very rude not to be ready to receive one's visitors. I wonder where he picked up all his old-fashioned ideas."

Catherine was just performing this office, when she was startled by the voice of Sir Thomas, who, totally forgetful of etiquette, planting himself at the foot of the stair, within a yard of the drawing-room door, began the following colloquy with the girls above :

"Ellinor, Catherine, what detains you so long? Don't you know that Miss Ken

nedy, and her niece and nephew, have been in the drawing-room this half hour? This behaviour is abominably rude to your visitors. Cannot one of you come at least ?” "I'll run,” said Catherine; “ you must get Campbell to tie your sash."

"You shan't stir-tie away, and I shall keep papa in play till you are ready to go.I assure you, papa," she cried, from above, "your watch must be wrong-Alittle tighter, Catherine-my watch is only seven o'clock, and Miss Kennedy had no business to come so early. It is not above a quarter of an hour since we left the dining-table. What made her come at this plebeian hour ?"

"Oh, Ellinor!" said Catherine, " don't speak so loud, she will certainly hear you."

"Well, let her hear. If papa wished the conversation to be private, would he bawl there at the back of the drawing-room door? But tell me, am I better with or without a necklace ?"