"Oh, never mind necklaces. How can you, when Sir Thomas is so impatient ?" "What has his impatience to do with my necklace?" Exasperated at this apparent disregard of orders, and doubly so at the aspersions cast upon his watch, Sir Thomas now gave most indubitable evidence of increasing irritation, which being perceived by Ellinor, she permitted Catherine to go down stairs, but with positive injunctions to return instantly, and satisfy her as to the outline of their new visitors; then planting herself before the large mirror, she impatiently awaited her cousin's return. Catherine, however, did not choose to gratify Ellinor's request; and her vivid imagination, left to itself, soon pictured out a tall, graceful young man, embodying in his own person all that she considered captivating in his sex, till, unable longer to restrain her curiosity, she determined on descending to the drawing-room, into which she swept with an imperial air that so much astonish ed Miss Stevens, her tea-cup nearly fell from her hand. Miss Stevens's look of amazement was, however, lost on Ellinor, whose eyes were in search of that Adonis which her fancy had painted in such bright colours. CHAPTER XXIV. Look, look, what bustling Here I do espy, Each another justling, Every one turmoiling, The other spoiling, As I did pass them by ; One sitteth musing in a dumpish passion, Old Ballad. BUT she sought in vain. At length her eyes rested on a little, short, stout man, with red hair, sharp grey eyes, and a nose turned upwards, who seemed as much satisfied with his own appearance, as if he really had been the Adonis she had anticipated. So soon as this vulgarian caught the attention of Ellinor, she threw on her cousin such a look as nearly overset the composure of Catherine. "I hope I see Miss Kennedy well," said Ellinor, without deigning to look at the person she addressed; "our watches have been behind a whole hour to-night." Miss Kennedy said she was perfectly well, and, as in duty bound, hoped, with equal sincerity, that Miss Lennox was in good health. "Ellinor, my dear," said the Baronet, "allow me to introduce Mr and Miss Stevens." Ellinor bowed with a kind of fashionable insolence to this King of frights and Queen of terrors, (a mode of salutation practised by the somebodies to the nobodies ;) and, seeing the effect which it produced in the wonder-struck Miss Stevens, she determined to amaze her still more before they parted. As to the gentleman, observing that he did not seem to think her manner more fashionable than his own, and that he was a personage who required to be kept at a considerable distance; and, moreover, feeling quite provoked that the indig nant looks with which she occasionally favoured him, failed to produce the desired effect, she walked across the room, and seated herself beside his sister, reserving him for a last blow, not having yet made up her mind as to the mode in which it should be given. Miss Stevens appeared by no means to relish Ellinor's condescension, but she was speedily relieved from the consequences, for hardly had Miss Lennox seated herself, when Mr Stevens, who was really greatly struck with Ellinor's beauty, approached, saying, in a tone of familiarity, "What! two ladies sitting together! We cannot permit that. Come, Mary, rise, and let me divide you.” Miss Stevens gladly obeyed this order; and, in defiance of Ellinor's haughty looks, Mr Stevens possessed himself of the vacant seat; then addressing himself to Ellinor, said, “You ladies have always so many secrets to tell each other, that you are never happy but when together. I could lay any |