der increased, so did the antics of the performer; and just as he was concluding the last verse of the song, and the two ladies had their eyes intently fixed upon him, an unfortunate dog, in trying to escape from some mischievous boys, who were in full chase of it, took refuge with Miss Kennedy, and having in some most unaccountable way, got entangled with her dress, overset her, and they both rolled together to the bottom of the bank. "Ha-ha-ha!"exclaimed Connor, whose exalted situation gave him an opportunity of seeing the catastrophe, and flourishing his fiddlestick," ha-ha-ha! what an admirable somerset the old one has had! upon my soul, she rolled down the bank as if quite au fait to the business-But come, I will give her three cheers ;" and drawing himself up to his full height, and taking his hat in one hand, and the violoncello in the other, he thrice passed them alternately round his head, and with a loud huzza-huzza, which they distinctly heard, he jumped from the table. "There's papa," said Ellinor, in terror, as she heard his foot on the stairs; “quick, quick, off with your hat; and you have tied the shawl in such a way I can't get it loosened-what shall we do?" gave way. "Make yourself easy," said Connor, taking his teeth to the knot, which soon "I shall be in proper trim for the old gentleman." And they had managed to get all things in proper order before the entrance of the Baronet, who would have been absolutely furious, had he suspected the scene which was acting above stairs, while he was below. "How do you do, my dear?" he said, approaching Catherine, and shaking hands with her. "I hope you are going to stay with us?" "No, indeed," said Mrs Sefton; "Imean to carry her back with me-you need not talk of her coming home this age." "And how do you think," said Sir Thomas, smiling, "that we can part with her so long? I assure you, we miss her sadly." "And so should I," said Mrs Sefton, gaily. "Catherine," said Lady Lennox, as she entered, and while her eyes beamed with pleasure on beholding her, "I did not expect to see you to-day. But really, my dear, when do you think of coming home? you have been away a very long time." 66 Lady Lennox,” said Mrs Sefton, " you will really quite frighten me from coming near you, if you insist on my parting with Catherine. "Tis really too bad of you to wish to take her from me, when I have so short a time to enjoy her society." "Well, well,” said Lady Lennox, kindly, "I shall renew her leave of absence a little longer; but really it is against my judgment, for I am certain that the air of Duddingstone does not agree with Catherine-she has quite lost her bloom." 66 Oh, she will soon regain it.-But, Ca therine, we must go now, it is getting late," said Mrs Sefton, terrified that Lady Lennox might alter her mind; nor did she breathe freely until she found herself and her friend retracing the way to Dudding stone. CHAPTER XXI. Good people all of every sort, Give ear unto my song; It cannot hold you long. GOLDSMITH. On the Sunday following, Connor made his appearance in Hope Street, and was provoked on finding only Mrs Lennox at home. Pray, Anne," said he, “what has become of all the good folks ?" "Oh!" she replied with a yawn, " they have all gone to Edinburgh to hear some prodigious orator, and I suppose they wont be home for six hours at least; these Scotch people do nothing but prance about to preach->> ings, as they call them; and yet though they preach for ever, I'm sure they are not a bite better than their neighbours.". |