ther. "How glad I am you're coming, aren't you Elinor. Her parties are all so tiresome; a lot of stupid clergymen, and just enough of young men to make one feel the restraint. Alec. Flaccid calls them "muffin-worries." Yet it is selfish in me to wish you to spend a dull evening."

"How can I spend a dull evening if Miss Fairweather is present," said Ernest, with more empressement than he usually infused into his every-day compliments. "I declare I feel so happy this morning, as if I could forgive anybody, as if I loved Mrs. Grainger and the whole world. What can be the reason."

"It must be the fine weather," said Miss Fairweather;" and yet don't you think it looks like rain ?"

"Rain indeed, nonsense, it can't rain, it shan't rain-I mean it won't. Why it is the most beautiful day for a walk, and I was just going to propose one down on the sands by the sea shore."

Do you think we dare go, Elinor," said Miss Fairweather.

rence.

"To be sure; why not," said Miss Law"We will be as safe with Mr. Basil there as in his studio, and Mrs. Grainger will be engrossed with the "Borryoboolagha" duties all the afternoon."

But Miss Lawrence concealed a design under her evident desire to promote this walk. She was too quick-sighted not to see that Mr. Basil's attentions were levelled entirely at her friend, and she had no idea of making a party of three to stroll on the sands. Just as they were getting clear of the town, she exclaimed

"Now I am really sorry to break up such a happy party, but I have promissed so often to call upon my good old friend, Mrs. M'Clure, that I dare not go past her house. Yonder sits the good old lady at the window with her knitting. You two go on and enjoy your walk, and take me up as you pass. I shall be on the look out even if you should forget my existence. Good bye, I hope you won't miss me

very much," cried the laughing, beautiful girl as she waved an adieu from the steps in front of Mrs. M'Clure's door.

Ernest was not so much engrossed by Miss Fairweather, that he did not thoroughly appreciate this goodnatured manœuvre on Miss Lawrence's part, and felt so grateful to her in consequence, that just then, if he had not loved Constance he might have loved Elinor.

Few young men, we presume, walk with young ladies alone, especially by the sea side, without either making love or thinking of making it; and when it is in the thoughts, it comes so naturally to the lips, even if those tell-tales, the eyes, have not already discovered it. The French say, talking of love is making it. We also say that we may be doing our very best to inspire love when we are neither thinking nor talking about it.

In pleasant converse the time wore quickly away, and even the lovers, if we may be allowed to style them such, began at last to think of returning and relieving Miss Lawrence

from her self-imposed duty of watching for them at Mrs. M'Clure's window. Whatever that kind hearted young lady thought, she did not either by word or look manifest the slightest impatience.

CHAPTER IX.

MRS. GRAINGER'S CONVERZAZIONE.

On the memorable evening in question Ernest having got himself up with infinitely more care and attention than he had been in the habit lately of bestowing on his toilette, knocked at Mrs. Grainger's door and was duly ushered into the assemblage of materials for sociability which that good lady had collected in her drawing-room. At first there was but a vague impression of being surrounded by sundry gentlemen in black coats and white cravats, by no means remarkable for the brilliancy and vivacity of their appearance; a due proportion of elderly ladies of every variety of aspect, vinegar predominating, and a fair sprinkling of young ones, which formed the redeeming points of the landscape. The party seemed to be indeed one of these irreverently, but significantly, termed by Flaccid " muffin worries."