across her room, she once more descended to see what was going on below, where her chagrin was considerably augmented on finding Catherine and Willoughby at chess. Bitterly did she now regret having designated it as an evening amusement only; and as she felt that she could not now offer to play with Willoughby, after having refused to oblige her father, she was forced to content herself with a station near the players, where she pretended to be observing the game. A game she was indeed watching,

but it was not that of chess.

Catherine, who saw the gathering storm, now said carelessly, at the same time rising from her seat," Come, Ellinor, you know you are an excellent chess-player; do try and retrieve my blunders. I really can't stand the loss of two games, for I see this is going against me; and though I know you are not very fond of it in the morning, yet I hope you will oblige me to-day, were it only to save my character as a chessplayer."

Willoughby, as far as politeness to Ellinor would allow him, opposed this plan, saying, "However glad he would be to have Miss Lennox for an antagonist, he could not think of parting with Miss Dundas till their contest was decided."

Catherine, however, insisted on Ellinor's taking her place, which she did, though but half pleased with the conduct of Willoughby, who, on his part, being by no means delighted with the exchange, moved his Bishops, Kings, and Queens, in solemn silence.

Catherine, seeing the dissatisfaction of Ellinor, and the gravity of Willoughby, retired to the library, resolving not to return to the drawing-room till assured of his departure.

Ellinor, though in high displeasure with Willoughby, tried to conceal her chagrin ; but, occupied in endeavouring to divine the cause of the alteration in his manner, she played so carelessly, that Willoughby, though almost equally inattentive to the

game, after a short contest, won it; and without once offering to give her her revenge, almost immediately after took his departure, leaving Ellinor full leisure to reflect on all that had passed, and ponder on that alteration in the deportment of Willoughby, which she alternately regretted and resented.

A few days after this occurrence, to the surprise of the family, and the pleasure of Catherine, a letter was received by Sir Thomas from Charles, requesting his father's consent to his marriage with an English lady, a widow, of a good family, and possessing an independent fortune. Although Sir Thomas felt somewhat surprised at the rapidity with which the matter had been negotiated, the description Charles gave of the lady and her appendages was too satisfactory to admit of his hesitating to receive her into his family. His consent, therefore, was no sooner asked than it was granted, and, as may be supposed, in very well-chosen high-sounding terms.

When Charles set off for England, in deep despair at Catherine's rejection of his suit, he firmly believed that no woman breathing would ever have power to make him forget his incomparable cousin. The thing was impossible. He never would find her equal, therefore he never would love again.

So Charles reasoned and thought, as many have reasoned and thought before him. Like all people in love, he imagined his affection must last for ever, and like them, too, he, after an interval, the duration of which is left to the imagination of our fair readers, found himself still enslaved though he had changed his enslaver. In justice to Charles, however, we must allow, that, on his arrival at Cheltenham, he was as miserable as a rejected lover need be, and that he would most probably have continued much longer in the despairing state befitting his situation, had not his melancholy been chased away by the smiles of this agreeable widow, who spared no ef

forts to attract and attach the dejected and interesting heir of a baronetcy and a large

estate.

On the noble principle, perhaps, of being above disguise, the lady did not hesitate to display her partiality; and as a man is never so vulnerable to the attacks of one fair lady as when he has just been rejected by another, Charles, grateful for her affection, persuaded himself that he was actually in love, and in a moment of tenderness offered her his hand. As the lady had no one to consult, the affair was soon arranged, and they waited only for the consent of Sir Thomas to complete their marriage.

"I wonder," said Ellinor, "what kind of a woman this widow is. I did not think that Charles would marry an Englishwoman. I presume they will be down immediately. I am all impatience to see her. Charles does not say whether or not she is handsome; but I am sure she must have a considerable portion of beauty, or she could not have caught him. I observe he men