"Did you buy my needles, Catherine ?" asked her ladyship. I hope they are not coarse the last Campbell bought me were more like spits than needles." "I never can guess," said Ellinor, in tolerably good humour ; "so you may just as well tell me." "What would you think if it were Mr Stevens ?-the delicate pink is so like his taste." "Do not mention the vulgar wretch; but seriously, who chose it ?" 66 by!" 66 Who, but the irresistible Willough Willoughby! I can't believe you," said Ellinor, starting up from her indolent posture; "where did you meet with him ?” "In the village; you see what you have missed by remaining stupidly at home.” "Was he alone?" 66 No; Brooke was with him. They accompanied me to the door, and said they meant to have called this forenoon, but on seeing Spencer denied admittance, they went away in despair. This will surely cure you of making poor William tell so many fibs." "Don't tease me ;-but how could you avoid asking them in, after such a broad hint?" 66 By simply bidding them good morning at the door." "That was very rude and absurd. If I had been there, I should certainly have desired them to make out their visit." “I think,” said Lady Lennox, "that Catherine showed her sense in not inviting them in, so near our dinner-hour. I declare, when once these officers get into the house, there is no getting them out of it. The very last time Captain Spencer was here, he sat so long, I was absolutely quite faint from hunger, before dinner was put on the table. They keep very late hours at the barracks, to be sure, but they ought not to suppose other people equally foolish. And they not only stay late, but they come sometimes so early, that they prevent the servants from rubbing the drawing-room furniture properly. Mary had her brushes in her hand for two hours the other day, expecting every moment to hear the bell ring to let them out; really, these long calls are a dreadful waste of time. But bless me, here is a terrible stain on the table; I must have Mary in here while we are at dinner." 66 'I am sure," said Ellinor, alarmed lest a stop should be put to the visits of her admirers, "I am sure, I see nothing the matter with the tables; for my part, I see no use in working poor Mary to death in polishing the furniture of other people; but if she must be employed, you had better make her rub papa's book-case." As the said book-case stood in the dressing-room of Sir Thomas, Ellinor was very strenuous in recommending Mary to exercise herself there, as she was not at all disposed to be rubbed out of the admiration of Willoughby and Spencer. Being now in pretty good humour, she sat down to the harp, and 66 sung, for at least the ninety-ninth time, Forget-me-not." Catherine retired to take off her bonnet, and Lady Lennox persevered in her laudable endeavours to reduce to order the chaos of her writing-desk, which task she happily accomplished just as the last dish was placed on the dinner table. CHAPTER II. A feast must be without a fault; Art of Cookery. IT will readily be believed, that our military friends did not fail to profit by their introduction to the Lennox family, to whom they became so agreeable, that it was resolved nem. con. to invite them to a dinner party. "Who shall we get to meet those officers ?" said Sir Thomas, as the family were assembled. "I think we may ask the Ramsays, and we had better have the Balfours, as we owe them a dinner." 66 Indeed, we owe the Balfours no such thing," said her ladyship, "they were last |