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was anxious that her cousin should regain her good humour before they met any of their military friends, ventured a remark, and Ellinor was just beginning to come round, when they arrived on the sands. The sunshine quickly overcast, not a red-coat was to be seen, nothing but dreary land and sky." The whole party had vanished. "I thought how it would be," said Ellinor, her pouts returning; "I wish I had come without you. This comes of waiting for other people; and then mamma with her points! her letter might have gone just as well by the evening post. But some cross accident always happens when we have any amusement in view; I never knew it fail."

"I dare say," replied Catherine, smiling, "had your mamma known that you were going in chase of half-a-dozen dragoons, she would not have detained you a moment; but you see, my dear cousin, that we never deviate from the right path without being punished for it."

"I don't know what you call the right

path. I am sure there is no such mighty sin in taking a walk on the sands, even though there were some officers there. I only wish that those who make such a fuss about it, may never do worse."

Catherine was silent. At this moment, to the great annoyance of Ellinor, they were joined by Miss Kennedy, her niece and nephew. Ellinor, who was mentally wishing them all at the bottom of the sea, listened with such a gloomy air to Mr Stevens's fine compliment, that Catherine had great difficulty in restraining herself from laughing; and Mr Stevens thought that a severe headach must be the occasion of her knit brows and short replies.

"that your

"I fear, Miss," he began, head must be very bad, or perhaps it is a heart-ach; a pretty Miss like you must often have these sort of plagues."

"There are many other plagues, sir, much more insufferable than either headachs or heart-achs," replied the haughty

beauty, surveying him from head to foot, with an air of fashionable insolence.

Mr Stevens paused a moment, to endeavour to take in the sense of her words; but as self-love prevented him from comprehending her inuendo, he resumed-" As you very sensibly remark, Miss, we have a great many plagues in this world; but we should just try and make the best of them, and, as the old saying, lay the head of the sow to the tail of the grice.'"

"How dare you, sir, speak to me of your vulgar proverbs? Is this, sir, conversation for a lady?-Catherine, I have got a headach-I wish to go home."

Catherine, thus summoned, quitted Miss Kennedy and Miss Stevens, with whom she was walking, and returned with Ellinor. When they reached Hope Street, Catherine said, "Won't you go with me to Walker's? I have some commissions to execute for Lady Lennox, and besides, it is too soon to go in. Come now," continued she playfully, taking hold of her arm, "you must

oblige me-you would not let me walk through the village alone?" But Ellinor was too much petted to be induced to oblige any one; and telling Catherine she had no turn for pin-and-needle duties, she walked sulkily into the house, and Catherine pursued her way. Just as she reached the head of Hope Street, she saw Willoughby and Brooke advancing from the east. She determined to bow and pass on, but the gentlemen, either not seeing, or not choosing to see, that such was her intention, joined her, and on inquiring her destination, insisted on being allowed to select herneedles. Catherine allowed Willoughby to choose the pink ribbon for Ellinor, (but without telling him who it was for,) hoping this. would assist in restoring the good-humour of her wayward cousin. The gentlemen seemed very much inclined to prolong her stay in the shop; but Catherine would not be detained, and after completing her various purchases, she retraced her steps, accompanied by the gentlemen.

Willoughby made many inquiries as to their motions, said they intended to call, but had been prevented by seeing Spencer's ill-fortune; found there was no hope for them; wondered where the ladies had hid themselves all the morning, for they had been on, or at least near the sands, till within a quarter of an hour, and had not been so fortunate as to see them. To all these hints Catherine replied in the most general terms; and although they accompanied her to the door, and rung the bell for her, she did not invite them in, not knowing in what kind of humour she might find Ellinor and the rest of the family. On arriving in the drawing-room, she found Ellinor lolling on the sofa in total idleness, and Lady Lennox busy clearing her writing-desk of rubbish, which, to say the truth, was all that it generally contained.

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Well, Ellinor," said Catherine smiling, and holding up before her the pink ribbon, "who do you think chose this ribbon? Come, I will give you three guesses.”