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pitying his evident discomposure, drew him away, under pretence of wishing to look at some portraits in the adjoining room. After listening to remarks which indicated such a total want of taste and sentiment, Sir Thomas disdained to point out to Mrs Lennox the passage through which Darnley and his associates rushed in to murder the unfortunate Rizzio; therefore, turning to the person who was appointed to show the Palace, Sir Thomas entered into a long and learned discussion on many particulars connected with this princely residence.

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"The Abbey," said the Baronet, erected by David the First, who, on account of his extreme liberality to the religious orders, was called by James the Sixth, 'a sair sanct to the crown;' but the populace defaced it greatly at the Revolution."

“That is true, sir,” replied his conductor; "but it was not till the year 1768 that the roof fell in."

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"I think," rejoined Sir Thomas, "that the flying buttresses on the south side of

the chapel were added by Abbot Crawford in 1483 ?"

"Flying buttresses!-flying buttresses!" exclaimed Mrs Lennox,-" how I should like to see them.-Do you show them, friend ?"

The guide, though a little surprised at her passion for flying buttresses, answered civilly, that she would see them when she visited the chapel.

So eager was Mrs Lennox to enjoy the promised treat, she would not give the slightest attention to any of those objects which generally excite so much interest; even the apartments so lately honoured by the royal presence did not for a moment detain her steps. Taking the arm of Sir Thomas, she desired their conductor to precede them to the Abbey-a cursory view of which was all that her impatience permitted, ere she hurried this ill-assorted party to the Royal Chapel.

The displeasure of Sir Thomas being somewhat abated by this appearance of in

terest, he deigned once more to take on himself the office of Cicerone, and thus addressed his amiable daughter-in-law :-" In the south-east corner of this Chapel is the royal vault, in which were deposited the remains of David the Second, James the Second, Prince Arthur, third son of James the Fourth, James the Fifth, Magdalen, Queen of James the Fifth, and".

But here his list of defunct royalty was suddenly interrupted by Mrs Lennox exclaiming to the guide," But the buttresses -you have not shown me the flying but

tresses !"

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Flying idiot!" exclaimed the indignant Sir Thomas, as he strode out of the chapel. The wrath of the Baronet could only be exceeded by the surprise of Mrs Lennox, when she at last saw these said flying buttresses, which, however, to her great amazement, she found to be standing stock-still. Casting on them a look of supreme contempt, she passed through the Chapel, without any other remark, than that it was full

of excellent nettles, which would be good feeding for Lady Lennox's turkeys; and, stepping into the carriage, she amused herself, and provoked her auditors, by humming, "Adieu, thou dreary pile."

As the servants had, before leaving home, received instructions as to the places that were to be visited, the carriage was now driven to the College, before which magnificent building it now stopped. "Pray, what are we to see here?" inquired Mrs Lennox. All but Catherine were too indignant to reply; she, however, answered, that there was in the College a very splendid Museum, which was highly deserving of her attention.

"I beg leave to inform you," replied Mrs Lennox," that I have no taste for cracked shells and stuffed owls; besides, my shoes will be entirely spoiled if I cross that dirty pavement."

"In that case," replied Catherine," we had better proceed directly to the Castle; you will perhaps be gratified by seeing the

Regalia. The crown is of pure gold, embellished with diamonds, jacinths, oriental garnets, chrysoprases, and amethysts."

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Oh," said Mrs Lennox, "that will be something worth looking at, provided the jewels are not false; if they are so, I shall easily detect them, as I am somewhat of a judge of these things."

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Look," said Catherine, "is not this view of the Castle sublime in the extreme?" "Is that the Castle?" replied Mrs Lennox; la, what a funny rock it stands upon.'

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Charles bit his lip, Catherine spoke to Clara, Sir Thomas looked from the speaker to the Castle and from the Castle to the speaker, while Ellinor said sarcastically, Very funny indeed."

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A solemn pause ensued, which was broken by Ellinor asking Charles what regiment was now in the Castle.

"It is the **th," replied he,

"which

arrived some weeks since; the regiment which preceded it suffered very much from scarlet fever just before it left this."

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