seys, before she discovered that she was wasting her homage on Lady Lennox, who sat alone in solitary grandeur. Whether the ladies had gone out with the gentlemen, or the gentlemen with the ladies, we cannot pretend to determine. Certain it is they were gone, nor left "a rack behind," save rumpled chairs and sofas, whose melancholy state bore witness that wrinkles may be occasioned by cornets as well as cares. CHAPTER XI. 'Twere well, says one, sage, erudite, profound, COWPER. MISS KENNEDY having collected a new budget of gossip, hastened to share it with her friend Miss Macdonald, with whom she found Mrs and Miss Barton, and Mrs Smellarat. "What a charming day this is," said Miss Macdonald as her visitor entered. 66 66 'Delightful," replied Miss Kennedy, " and I have taken advantage of it to pay my visit to Mrs Lennox." "Indeed," replied Miss Macdonald, "and you see her?" did "I am told," said Mrs Barton, "that Sir Thomas is repenting the opposition he made to his son's marriage with Miss Dundas, as he cannot endure his daughter-inlaw; indeed, folks don't scruple to say that he quarrelled with her the first day she entered the house. I hear the lady has a temof her own." per "As to Sir Thomas quarrelling with Mrs Lennox the first day they met, that I don't believe. Sir Thomas has some sense; but I dare say it was not the lady's fault, for, between ourselves, I think her a perfect vixen. I fear my poor friend Charles has made but a bad bargain. This comes of men marrying in a pet. I have it from the best authority, that they were acquainted only a few weeks when he popped the question, which he did just as they began a dance, and she accepted him before they finished it. She seems to have been in a great hurry to change her name. I fancy her late husband wished she had never borne his; poor man, he died of a broken heart-we need not ask who killed him." "Can you tell me," asked Miss Barton, "whether she wears a pelisse or a mantle? for I am thinking of getting my brown silk made up again, and "Never mind your brown silk," replied Mrs Smellarat; "we would rather hear something more about these Lennoxes." "I am sure," replied Mrs Barton, piqued that her daughter should be treated with so little ceremony, "I am sure, I wonder what pleasure people can find in prying into the concerns of their neighbours; for my part, I hope I am above such mean ways.—But, bless me, there is Barbara Sinclair and her cousin coming down the street; it is easily seen her father is in Edinburgh to-day, or she would not dare to be walking about with him in that open manner. It would be well done to give Mr Sinclair a hint of what is going on. My James met them last night parading up and down Rosefield Lane I suppose they thought nobody would see them there." "I thought," said Mrs Smellarat, "that you never pried into the concerns of your neighbours; Miss Sinclair will probably tell a different story.-But, Miss Macdonald, have you heard much about Mrs Lennox ?" "No, very little; but it is reported that she has a horrid temper, and that all her chemises are trimmed with Valenciennes lace." "I don't believe a word of it," replied Mrs Barton; "nobody in their senses would waste expensive lace in that way." "I tell you, madam, it is true," said Mrs Smellarat," for I had a part of one of these very chemises in my hand yesterday." "Indeed!" said Miss Macdonald, "how did you manage that ?" 66 Why, I happened to be passing Sir Thomas's house, just as Jenny Soapysapples was coming out of the gate with a bundle. like a hay-stack on her back; and having heard that the Lennoxes were very extravagant, I walked after Jenny up the street, |