friend. You may, perhaps, flatter yourself, that were I out of the way, you might succeed in your designs on Willoughby; but I tell you very candidly, that you may give up all hopes of the kind-Willoughby is the man-and I have not the slightest intention of carrying matters farther with Spencer, to which you so kindly and disinterestedly advise me."

"You, Ellinor,” replied Catherine, “are the only person in the world who would dare to breathe such insinuations; believe them you cannot. I am proud to say, that every action of my life disproves them; you yourself who utter them, do not give them a moment's belief.-Ellinor," she continued, struggling to suppress her emotions, “we have passed our childhood, our youth, together, and with all your faults, I love you; and I cannot bear to see you on the point of marring your own happiness without making an effort to save you. Spencer loves you tenderly, devotedly; he is a man with whom any

amiable woman might find happiness. Willoughby also loves you, but he has very exalted sentiments regarding our sex. He esteems you, and on that is his love founded; but let him once witness your petulance, caprice, and injustice-let him discover that you have cruelly trifled with the affections of Spencer, and he is lost to you for ever. Spencer sees your faults, and loves you with them all. Choose then on which you will bestow your heart; and oh, my dear Ellinor, strive not only to appear, but to become truly amiable."

Here the conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Willoughby and Spen

cer.

"How do you do, Major Willoughby?" said Ellinor, receiving him with even more than her usual frankness, while she honoured Spencer only with a slight nod-"I hope you have been quite well since we had the pleasure of seeing you?"

Willoughby, highly gratified by her very flattering reception, was more than usually

attentive andagreeable; on observing which, Ellinor cast many triumphant glances at her cousin; while poor Spencer, finding himself wholly overlooked, tried, by conversing with Catherine, to conceal his deep mortification.

But Catherine, wounded by Ellinor's ac cusations, shocked by her coquetry, and grieved for Spencer, whose restless and unhappy countenance but too plainly showed how keenly he felt the neglect of his capricious mistress, proved but a silent and unentertaining companion, which, though unable to rectify, she sincerely regretted, as her taciturnity left Spencer more leisure to observe the motions of his rival, and of Ellinor, whose gaiety appeared to increase in proportion as the countenance of Spencer became more and more melancholy and discontented. Willoughby, who was quite unconscious that to rage and pique he owed, in part at least, the extreme affability of his companion, entered with great spirit into an animated flirtation, which, however,

truth obliges us to say, commenced on the lady's side, and, engrossed by this amusement, he forgot there was any other object in the room; nor did he even observe that Catherine had quitted it, till a deep sigh from Spencer, who was vainly trying to occupy himself by turning over the leaves of a music-book, arrested his attention, and made him turn round to see from whom the doleful sound proceeded.

"Spencer," said Willoughby, now first observing his paleness and dejection, “my dear friend, are you well enough ?"

Perfectly so," replied Spencer, while indignation flushed his brow.

"I cannot believe it," rejoined Willoughby; "a moment since, you were as pale as death, but now your colour is sufficiently brilliant-don't so, Miss Len

nox ?"

you

think so,

“Oh, very brilliant," replied she, while her eyes fell under Spencer's penetrating

gaze.

"Faith, Spencer," exclaimed Willoughby,

"if these hot and cold fits continue, I shall begin to believe you are in love.-Don't you think he has all the symptoms?" continued he, addressing Ellinor.

"I am no judge of these subjects," she replied, deeply blushing..

Just at this moment Catherine, who had been called from the room, now returned.

"Miss Dundas," said Willoughby, approaching her, "we have been bringing a serious charge against my friend Spencer; he appears inclined to deny the accusation, and you come very à propos to assist us in sifting the affair-If you," continued he, addressing Ellinor, " will bring forward the charges, Miss Dundas and I will hear the pleadings, and then pass sentence on the culprit."

"If Miss Dundas has anything to do in it," replied Ellinor, with a heat which surprised both gentlemen," the sentence will not be too lenient."

"Are you then so severe a judge?" said Willoughby, turning to Catherine.