then enjoined Catherine to take her place, who added her most affectionate good wishes for his happiness. The letter was then duly signed and sealed, and dispatched, with Sir Thomas's more elaborate epistle, to the postoffice.

CHAPTER VIII.

Allured and frighten'd, soften'd and afraid,
The widow doubted, ponder'd and obey'd;
So were they wedded.

CRABBE.

Why, sir, I trust I may have leave to speak-
And speak I will.

Taming of a Shrew.

As the day approached on which they were to be introduced to their new relative, all was anxiety and bustle in the house. Hours before the travellers could possibly reach Hope-street, the impatient Sir Thomas kept pacing from the window to the door, from the door to the window, watching every vehicle which rattled down the street, and stopping every second to listen for their approach. This restless fit gave great umbrage to his lady, who, in her peregrinations from room to room, to ascer

tain that all things were in order, encountered her lord and master at every turn; for Sir Thomas was not contented to await their arrival in one apartment, but pranced from the drawing-room to the dining-room, and from the dining-room to the drawingroom, to the great annoyance of his lady, and discomfort of Ellinor, who complained to Catherine, that the creaking of his shoes, and his perpetual motion, would infallibly throw her into a hysteric fit, if she did not go instantly, and get him to stay in one place. She was just about to obey, when he again appeared.

"I wonder what can keep them," he said, on entering; and pulling out his watch," they should have been here long ago; but, to be sure, when men have ladies for travelling companions, they never can be certain of their time: I never yet met with a punctual woman-always dilatory— always late. It can't be the badness of the roads which detains them; we have not had a drop of rain for six weeks-Let

me see what is the distance of the last stage from this ?—I think it is fifteen miles;-fifteen did I say?—I think it must be more: but yet, as they will not have much heavy luggage, they could easily drive it in two hours-I suppose they will have four horses. But, Catherine, run down to the dining-room for the almanack-you will find it on the mantelpiece."

"I am sure, papa," said Ellinor, "I am sure it is not of the least consequence how many miles the last stage is; and I am sure your dancing about from room to room, won't bring them one minute sooner. If you would but sit still in one place, you would not think the time half so long. You have been out and in, and in and out, not less than a hundred and fifty times within this quarter of an hour, and have regularly left the door open.-For my own part, I don't expect them this hour."

"You don't expect!" said the angry Ba

ronet ; "women know much about calculation, to be sure. I tell you, that if they reached Haddington by twelve, they should be here in ten minutes. Come, I bet you a pair of gloves, they are here in ten or fifteen minutes-Not expect them for an hour!-ha! ha!"

Indeed, and I will bet no such thing; 'tis needless betting with you-you never pay them. I am wise enough to know, that you still owe me a new pelisse, that you lost about Miss Mansfield's rouge-I know better than to bet with you ;-pay your old debts, before you contract any new ones."

In the middle of this dispute, Catherine entered with the almanack.

"Come away, Catherine," exclaimed the Baronet; "Miss Ellinor there says they won't be here these three hours, and

"I happened only to say one," said Ellinor.

"Well, one be it, but I am certain you