tíme exclaiming, "I won't "I won't go home; I am waiting for aunt Catherine, and will come home with her; my throat is quite well, and my frock is quite clean; and you may go home, and tell mamma that Major Willoughby will take care of me till aunt Catherine comes from church.'

In vain the servant insisted that she should be obeyed, and told her that Miss Dundas would not come home by the sands. Clara was obstinate; and, as her mamma had turned off three servants for daring to thwart her darling, Clara knew she could be positive with impunity.

At length, Willoughby having told the nursery-maid that he would take charge of her, and that if they did not meet Miss Dundas, he would bring her safe home, she departed, leaving the Major and his young companion to pursue their walk and their conversation, which they did not fail to do as soon as she quitted them.

"Are you going to marry aunt Cathe

rine ?" asked Clara, to the surprise of Wil

loughby.

"Who told you that ?"

"I heard Jenkinson say to mamma, that William had told her he was sure you were going to marry her."

"And what did your mamma say ?"

"She said, no; for that it was aunt Ellinor you were going to marry; but I know she does not love aunt Catherine as I do. Don't you love her too ?"

The Major did not find it convenient to give a direct answer to Clara's question; but as he was getting interested in her prattle, he determined to encourage it; and dropping still farther behind Ellinor and her companions, he again commenced, " Did aunt Catherine hear your mamma say I was going to marry her?"

Oh, no; she was not in the room. It was when mamma was dressing. But are you really going to be married to her? and will you be my uncle then ?"

"No, no," said Willoughby, laughing,

66

you know Miss Dundas is not your aunt."

"Well, then, when will you marry her Do you know, I was at mamma's marriage, and got a great piece of plum-cake and a pair of new white gloves; if will go home with me I will show them to you;

you

for me.

mamma has them locked up for me.

And

my new papa, for Jenkinson says he's not my own papa, gave me such a pretty locket, and a long, long, long gold chain. I will let you see it too. I had it on the night mamma took me to the play. Will you give me plum-cake and a locket when you marry aunt Catherine ?"

Oh, yes," said Willoughby; "when I marry aunt Catherine you shall have a whole plum-cake to yourself, and a locket, and a pair of white gloves too"

"I shall have two lockets, two gold chains, two pair of white gloves, and a whole plum-cake all to myself!" exclaimed the delighted Clara, jumping on the sands;

"but when shall I have them ?-Next week ?"

"Oh, no, not quite so soon; but you know our agreement was when I married aunt Catherine."

66

Well, but won't you marry her?” "Perhaps," said Willoughby, "aunt Catherine won't marry me."

"But I shall ask her, and shall promise to be a good, a very good child, if she will do so. But yonder she is," she exclaimed, bursting from Willoughby, " and I must run and tell her what you have promised to give me." And away she flew.

Willoughby, taken by surprise, for some minutes remained irresolute how to act. Not to join Catherine, he thought, would appear strange; and yet he feared, if he joined them, that Clara's remarks would place Miss Dundas in a most awkward situation. But Willoughby had now no alternative, as Catherine and her companion were within a few yards of him.

"I told you it was aunt Catherine,” said

the latter, as she approached;

her by her shawl.”

"I knew

Willoughby bowed to Catherine with considerable confusion; but it was returned with so much frankness, that he began to hope Clara had not put her threat in execution. So far he was right. Clara had only told Catherine all the fine things the Major was to give her, but had omitted to mention the occasion of the gifts; and Catherine, by way of entering into conversation, began by saying, "What fine things are these Clara tells me you have promised her-gold chains, lockets, gloves, and plumcakes? Why, Clara, I fear Major Willoughby will spoil you."

No, no," said Clara, "he wont spoil me; but he is not to give them to me till he marries you. When will you marry him, aunt? I want my gloves and gold chain, so do marry him soon."

During this speech Catherine blushed deeply; but after a few moments she broke silence. Clara," she said, with as much