never to marry him; so that it is all nonsense what we heard some time since, that Sir Thomas had given his consent. Poor thing, it is very hard upon her! She deserves great praise for giving him up, though perhaps, if all be true that is said, it is no such mighty sacrifice-for some people say she does not care a straw for him."

"Sacrifice, indeed!" replied Miss Nettles; "who in their senses would believe such a thing! I dare say he never was in her offer. What! a girl in Miss Dundas's dependant situation refuse such a match; and when she knows that the estate is entailed and must come to Mr Lennoxbesides, Sir Thomas can't live for ever. By the by, he is looking very old-like just

now."

nald;

"I agree with you," said Miss Macdo"Miss Dundas knows too well what she is about, to quarrel with her bread and butter. I could bet a pair of gloves, that if Mr Lennox had asked her, she would not

have taken two biddings-they would have been off by this time. Refuse him, indeed!"

"I am sure," said Mrs Smellarat," I never think of meddling in the concerns of my neighbours; but I must say, that it was not altogether right in Sir Thomas to let the young people be so much together; for we all know, Miss Kennedy, that it is the most naturalest thing in nature for young folks to fall in love; and it seems to me that Sir Thomas should have thought of all these things before he took his niece home. But, as I said before, I have no curiosity about my neighbours-though I may say between ourselves, that Sir Thomas should have been mair foresighty,—it's no time now to be boggling at the marriage; but they say her ladyship is for it-Do you give that belief?"

"Belief!" replied Miss Kennedy; " she was even more enraged about it than Sir Thomas; but now that Miss Dundas has rejected her son, she is quite pacified."

"You really think, then," said Mrs Barton," that she has refused him ?"

"Think!" retorted Miss Kennedy, "I know it for a fact. Lady Lennox, poor woman, is very imprudent,-not but what she was perfectly safe with me; but it is not every one who can be trusted with family

secrets."

"Miss Dundas," said Miss Barton, "must feel very uncomfortable, knowing herself to be the cause of her cousin's banishment. I am told that she has kept her room ever since his departure; and that her face is as white as paper, and her eyes as red as ferrets', with crying. I have never seen her out since he went away."

"I heard," rejoined Miss Macdonald, "that she had gone from home, and I did see Miss Lennox on the sands the other day alone, that is to say, without Miss Dundas; for she had three or four officers dangling after her."

"I assure you,” replied Miss Barton, “you will find my statement correct, for I had it from a quarter that I can depend upon;

and I again repeat, that Miss Dundas is still keeping her room."

“Will any of you ladies take another cup?" inquired Miss Macdonald. A general negative was given to the proposal, in consequence of which the tea-equipage was hastily dismissed.

"I wonder," said Miss Barton, as she seated herself close to the window beside Miss Nettles," I wonder if it is true that Miss Lennox is to be married to Captain Spencer. Some people say that Major Willoughby is the favoured admirer; but for my part, from all that I can learn, she flirts as much with the one as the other. I know for a fact, that she corresponds with some of them; for Miss Mackinlay's servant, Peggy, is acquainted with Sir Thomas's man, William, and he called in to see her as he was going to the barracks with a card, and somehow or other Miss Mackinlay got sight of the card, and thought there was no great harm in looking through it, and she told me that she saw something about meet

ing next day on the sands; and Miss Mackinlay said, that though she did not care about the matter, yet she thought she would just put on her bonnet, and take a turn at the hour mentioned; and that to her amazement, she found Miss Lennox and Captain Spencer there, walking arm in arm. By the by, Miss Macdonald, speaking of Miss Mackinlay, have you heard that her brother is just going to be married to a lady with ten thousand pounds?"

"Indeed!" said Miss Macdonald, "that is quite new to me; I did not hear the report before. Does it take place soon?"

"Immediately,” replied her friend, who was perfectly aware of Miss Macdonald's penchant for the gentleman; "and I hear he has presented her with a most expensive set of pearls, and that he has ordered an elegant carriage from London."

"I am glad to hear he can afford all this," replied Miss Macdonald, forcing a laugh; "but if he goes on at that rate, the lady's ten thousand will not last very long. But