jump in after her ladyship, determined to follow his example, and running up to the carriage, she said, "You are really ungallant, Charles, not to hand us in-What have you done with your good-breeding? I suppose you think a married man may dispense with it?"

Charles muttered some answer, which Ellinor did not hear very distinctly."

"Where are you all ?" said Sir Thomas, when they reached the door; "how are we to divide? Do you go with us, or with Charles and his wife? And Ellinor, where has she gone to now, and what has become of Charles and Lady Lennox? I thought I saw them both go down the stair before me."

Catherine was obliged to say, that they were already off, and requesting Sir Thomas to hand them in, they quickly followed their friends. Lady Lennox's party first reached the Theatre, and on entering, they found both Willoughby and Spencer seated in the back of the box. Charles handed

Lady Lennox to the front row, where he followed her; whilst Ellinor, inwardly rejoicing that her manoeuvre had succeeded, seated herself between Spencer and Willoughby; but Willoughby, who had been watching the door of the box in the hope of seeing Catherine enter, now beginning to fear that something had detained her at home, determined to satisfy himself by asking; and turning to Ellinor, he inquired if they were not to have the pleasure of seeing Mrs Lennox and Miss Dundas. Ellinor had but just replied in the affirmative, when the door opened, and they entered.

'Mrs Lennox," said Ellinor, "mamma has kept room for you beside her in the front and Clara will see much better there than behind."

row,

But Mrs Lennox, without deigning a reply, very composedly took possession of Willoughby's seat, from which he had risen on their entrance, and so divided him from Ellinor. When the latter saw how things were going, she was in great wrath with

the author of her disappointment. In vain she called to Catherine to come and sit by her: Catherine persisted in going to the front beside Lady Lennox; and Willoughby, after having handed her down, asked if she would make room for him beside her, and without waiting for an answer, seated himself by her side. If Ellinor was angry before, her mortification was increased tenfold, when she contemplated Catherine's agreeable seat; and to conceal her chagrin, she attempted to flirt violently with Spencer; who, having penetrated her manouvres to attach Willoughby to her side, was too much mortified and grieved, by her levity and caprice, to reply to her badinage, and remained silent and reserved. If Ellinor was mortified, Mrs Lennox was still more so. She had made up her mind to appropriate to herself the attentions of both gentlemen, and great was her disappointment, on finding herself hemmed in between Ellinor and Sir Thomas, both of whom she cordially hated. The case was distressing, and Ellinor,

so far from trying to ameliorate it, took not the slightest notice of her, while Sir Thomas, who was remarkably fond of theatrical amusements, was too much engrossed by the stage to pay her his usual attentions. Bitterly did Mrs Lennox now regret not having gone to the front row; however, she sat the first act out with tolerable composure, and so soon as the curtain dropt, she called to Catherine,-" Do make room for me beside you, Catherine; I wish to hear Clara's remarks on what she has seen."

Catherine immediately said that there was plenty of room; but Willoughby, to whom this proposal was highly displeasing, and who wished to enjoy the conversation of Catherine, took care that she should not divide them; and begging Catherine to move a little nearer, he by this manœuvre placed himself between her and the intruder. This was by no means what Mrs Lennox wished, and, so far was she from listening to the remarks of Clara, which was the ostensible reason for her change of seat, she

desired her not to hold such a chattering, as she had got a most abominable headach. Being determined that nothing should please her, she now vented her spite and disappointment in trying to put an end to the happiness of her neighbours, and turning to Catherine, said she felt so much indisposed, that she wished to return home, hoping that Catherine would offer to accompany her. Nor was she wrong in her conjecture. The moment Catherine learned she was unwell, although she felt reluctant to quit the house so soon, and perhaps some regret to be forced to leave Willoughby, she did not for an instant hesitate to go home with her cousin. But Charles prevented her putting this self-denial in practice. Having learned that his lady was indisposed, he said there was no occasion to break up the party, as he would go with her; for he suspected from her looks that it was bad temper, and not illness, which had occasioned the proposal. Meanwhile Lady Lennox insisted on accompanying them; and as Charles thought