Spencer if he was inclined for a stroll on the sands. Spencer thought himself obliged to assent to the proposal; but, unwilling to lose the society of Ellinor, with whose beauty and liveliness he was much captivated, he asked if the ladies would condescend to accompany them; adding, "You know, Lennox, I never walk with a gentleman, when I can prevail on a lady to favour me with her society. Let us unite our entreaties, that these fair ladies will accompany us on our ramble.-What say you, Miss Lennox? I think I read in your eyes, that the petition has been favourably received ?" and extending his arm to Ellinor, they led the

way.

But Charles was in no humour to follow with the lady of his love linked to his elbow, having asked Spencer to walk merely with the view of getting out of Catherine's society, and he was highly enraged at Spencer for placing him in his present disagreeable situation. In short, Charles was in love; and those who have experienced the

*

torturing delights of that passion, do not require to be told how often pique and jealousy attend it; and they who are still free from that pleasing pain will think their knowledge arrives rapidly enough. For some time Charles stood before her, so irresolute, and his manner appeared so strange, that Catherine, totally at a loss to account for the singularity of his behaviour, looked at him with unfeigned surprise. At length she broke silence, by saying, "Really, Charles, I begin to think that Miss Kennedy has carried the day. You are certainly conning over your proposal. Indeed, you seem so very unlike yourself, that I am convinced you must be in love."

"Nonsense, Catherine," he replied with great quickness. "I thought you had too much sense to trifle so." Catherine felt the blood mount to her cheek at these words, but, suppressing her feelings under a forced smile, she replied, "Why, Charles, should my raillery have given offence, when I only followed your example? But come,” added

she, "let us join Ellinor and Captain Spencer, who must be astonished at our delay;" and she quitted the room, in expectation that he followed; but on reaching the street, and observing that he did not make his appearance, she joined Spencer and Ellinor upon the sands.

Charles was now in that unenviable state of feeling, to which we have formerly had occasion to allude, and which is so well described by the Scotch phrase, of being "ready to fight with the wind."-He was out of humour with himself, for loving one who seemed so indifferent to his affection— out of humour with Catherine, for that indifference with Spencer and Ellinor for leaving him, and as for the Kennedys, whom he looked upon as the sole authors of the quarrel, we are doubtful if he could not willingly have seen them consigned to the bottom of the sea. He reproached himself for being so rude and petulant to his cousin,-regretted that he had not followed the party,went repeatedly to the door,-where his

pride always met him, and turned himtill at last, pronouncing morning visitors a bore, he seated himself at the drawing-room window, within view of the sands, fully determined to make himself as miserable as man could be.

CHAPTER VIII.

Falstaff. I would to God thou and I knew where a Commodity of good names were to be bought.

K. Henry the Fourth.

ON leaving the Lennoxes, Miss Kennedy proceeded straight to her friend Miss Macdonald's, who thus accosted her: "I am always happy to see you, my dear Miss Kennedy-but you appear to be a little heated; you have been calling on the Lennoxes, I presume? I hear that the girls are very handsome-the mother very silly --and the father very proud.—Is it so ?— You ought to know, for I believe you are an old friend of theirs? Miss Henderson tells me that the girls are very giddy, particularly the daughter, who never goes out without half a dozen of dragoon officers at her heels. I wonder Sir Thomas permits