that purpose, with becoming alacrity, and after arranging her dress, returned in actual good-humour.

From her very cradle Ellinor had been a spoiled child. Never having been denied even her most unreasonable wishes, she was so totally ruined by indulgence, that to her self-denial was impossible; and to be forced to relinquish the merest trifle to gratify another, was, in her opinion, a trial almost equal to martyrdom.-Not so Catherine Dundas. It had been her happier lot to s find in her lamented mother an instructress who taught her to keep her passions and feelings at all times under the control of reason and religion-and being early inured to affliction, that purifier of the heart, she became accustomed cheerfully to yield up her desires at the command of duty. On these principles were founded that undeviating integrity of heart and conduct which distinguished her through life, and rendered her an inestimable blessing to the attached friends by whom she was surrounded.

CHAPTER VII.

Fastidius. Peace, here comes the lady.
Lady. Gods me! here's company: turne in againe.
Every Man Out of his Humour.

PRELIMINARIES being at last finally settled, the party were on the point of setting out to make the visit, which had occasioned such a sensation in the family, when a tremendous peal announced another interruption, and in a few moments the identical Kennedys walked into the room.

The usual salutations over, "How do you like P-?" inquired the talkative lady; and without waiting any reply, "you have a very pleasant house here," she continued, “but I daresay you will pay smartly for it. I have just seen Miss Macdonald, who says this is to be a very this is to be a very full season, and

that rents are getting higher every day in expectation of it-a great many English

families have already arrived, and I saw some of the dragoon officers down the other day, seemingly in search of houses, at least if one may judge from their staring at every window they passed. I am told they are a wild set, who are at the barracks at present."

"Was that part of Miss Macdonald's intelligence?" interrupted Charles, laughing.

"Oh, no!" replied Miss Kennedy; "it was not from Miss Macdonald I heard that; but, indeed, everybody says so; and you know what everybody says must be true. But I believe you are acquainted with some of them, Mr Lennox; at least I heard that several of them were walking with you on the sands last night."

her curiosity.

66

"Me!" said Charles, much amused by Oh, no! 'tis quite a mistake. I acknowledge no such wild acquaintances; but perhaps you mean Ellinor, for she is very intimate with several of the officers of that regiment."

At this inauspicious moment, Captain Spencer was announced, and Miss Kennedy was now all eyes and ears, and, in place of flying from the presence of one of those wild dragoons, as might naturally have been expected, she appeared bent on seeing him out, and sat as firmly on her chair, as if she had taken a ninety-nine-years' lease of it.

But Mr Kennedy, having no particular motive for prolonging the visit, on finding his repeated signals to his sister wholly unattended to, took the law in his own hand; and, unmindful of etiquette, rose from his seat; which simple action forced the inquisitive busy-body to quit hers also; and this precious pair, much to the delight of the young people, now departed.

As soon as they were fairly out of hearing, Charles gave way to his mirth. “Ellinor,” said he, “I think I have done you up with the old lady. There will be intelligence afloat to-day, which will keep the tongues of all the prudes in P————— in employment for a couple of months."

Ellinor, who had not heard his conversation with Miss Kennedy, begged to know what he meant; but he replied, he would keep it for her private ear; and Ellinor, who looked on Captain Spencer as her own peculiar property, in listening to him, ceased to think either of Charles or his secret.

He now turned to Catherine, and began by teasing her about her admirer, as he chose to designate Mr Kennedy; but if his object in this was to draw from her a decided negative to his insinuations, he was cruelly disappointed and punished, for Catherine, at once entering into the jest with the most provoking coolness and good-humour, advised him to double the connexion by marrying the sister, adding, "she is just the steady, prudent character which will suit you as a wife."

The calm and unconcerned manner in which this was said, piqued Charles considerably, and without reflecting how very strange his conduct must appear to Catherine, he turned abruptly from her, and asked