William being out of the way, the coachman, ignorant of the interdict issued by Sir Thomas, admitted Connor, who, finding that Ellinor had gone out to walk, consented to give Mrs Lennox a short drive, and away they went. Ellinor, returning soon after, was much enraged that Connor had not waited for her; and in a very sullen humour, she seated herself at the window, and watched their arrival... In half an hour the tandem whirled down the street, stopped at the door, and Mrs Lennox alighted.

Ellinor drew up the sash,-" I hope you have had a pleasant drive ?" said she to Connor, in a tone of pique.

"Not half so agreeable as if you had been my companion," replied Connor, so soon as he believed Mrs Lennox to be out of hearing; "but," continued he, " do step down for a few minutes. I came here to-day, just on purpose to consult your charming taste respecting a new lining do come, I will not detain you an instant."

Mollified by this compliment, Ellinor ran down stairs, and stepped out on the street. "Well, what is this you are saying about a new lining?"

"Oh, I cannot explain it properly till you get into the tandem; there is a dear soul-Come, give me your hand. Stand still, Highflyer!-there, now you are seated, we shall proceed to business."

But Connor's business was, to touch the ears of Caleb Quotem-give the lash to Highflyer; and away they flew in the true break-neck style.

As soon as Ellinor recovered from her astonishment at this exploit, she exclaimed, "Good heavens, Connor! what do you mean? Do not you see that I have neither hat nor shawl ?"

"Poh! never mind," he answered, giving his greys another lash" the good folks will just believe from our haste, that we are bound for Gretna."

66

Really, this is too bad," replied Ellinor, as a sudden jolt shook the comb out of

!

her hair, and sent her long tresses flying about her face.

"Loose were her tresses seen!" sung Connor. "'Pon my soul, 'tis vastly becoming; you ought always to wear your hair so."

Our run-aways were now in the middle of the village, where their appearance created a considerable sensation. Up flew windows, out popped heads-" caller haddies" stuck in the throats of the fishwomen, butchers suspended their dissections, to stare with open eyes and mouths after this strange sight, and the barber stood rooted to the spot, pinching the nose of the unlucky wight who happened at this unfortunate moment to be under his finger and thumb. In short, such was the commotion, that Connor's servant, ashamed of belonging to such a party, struck his spurs into the horse's sides and hastened after them, anxious to get out of the gaze of the knots of people whom the adventure had drawn together. His master, however, enjoyed the thing ama. zingly, returned the spectators stare for

stare; and thundering on, swept down Pitt Street, up Melville Street, dashed through the middle of the village, turned up Brighton Place, then down Rosefield Lane, and narrowly missed riding over Sir Thomas, who was in the act of crossing Tower Street, in his way from the Post-office.

"Good heavens !" exclaimed Ellinor; "there is papa, and I have no hat on."

"I shall soon remedy that," said Connor, taking off his own and putting it on her head. But there it was not destined long to remain, for a violent jolt of the carriage sent it flying before them, and in another instant a wheel of the tandem went fairly over it. "Patrick," said Connor, looking over his shoulder to his attendant, " pick up my hat and bring it here."

The servant obeyed, and presented the hat, which had received several deep wounds in the side, and the crown half torn out, dangled in the wind. This tattered covering, however, Connor, with the utmost sang froid, placed on one side of his head,

in a manner which none but an Irishman can ever accomplish; and then drove on with an air of the utmost composure. As they drew near home, Ellinor began to feel a little uneasiness as to the way in which Sir Thomas would view the frolic; but she and Connor agreed that it would be best to treat the whole business as a thing of no earthly consequence. Accordingly, on reaching the drawing-room, where they found the Baronet absolutely foaming with passion, they affected not to observe his discomposure, and threw themselves back on the sofa, apparently convulsed with laugh

ter.

"I think," said Connor, "we have astonished the natives this morning. How they did stare! by Jove, I could have chucked my hat into some of the fellows' mouths, they gaped so abominably!-Ha-ha-ha! it has been a devilish pleasant frolic-the villagers looked electrified."

"Allow me to tell you, sir," said Sir Thomas, with rekindled ire," that you