part of the room, showing by her looks that she did not wish to be followed. Elizabeth, when she saw that the gentlemen were attempting to converse with the party of young ladies they had left, said in a low voice, "I feel that you have some cause to be displeased, dear Catharine, but do not, my friend, show your feelings so much; try at least to conceal them for a short time."

"I cannot," replied Catharine, "I never felt more miserable."

"You do not feel more so than he does," said Elizabeth, glancing towards Dunallan, who stood in deep thought near Rose's harp.

Catharine followed Elizabeth's look, and then sighed deeply. "His misery is no comfort to me. He must be miserable, thinking of me as he does. Oh ! what wretchedness is before us both!"

During the remainder of the evening, Catharine purposely avoided meeting Dunallan's looks. When parting for the night, he held out his hand as usual; she gave him hers; he held it for a moment, and she involuntarily looked up.

Dunallan's manner seemed to ask forgiveness, but Catharine turned coldly away. He pressed her hand gently in his, saying, "Good night," in a voice more than usually soft. Catharine felt she had cause to be displeased, yet was touched by his manner. Elizabeth, on this occasion, did not defend Dunallan, for she too had thought him harsh. When they again met, Catharine's manner was distant and somewhat haughty. Elizabeth's was also colder. Dunallan seemed painfully sensible of the change. He endeavoured at different times to induce Catharine to enter into conversation with him, but she purposely avoid

ed it; and once that he found her alone, she turned so markedly from him, that, though he still appeared anxious, by every other means, to regain her approbation, he no longer attempted to resume that intercourse which had, in some degree, subsisted between them before that unfortunate evening. He looked unhappy, however, and Catharine now felt her power. This almost unconsciously gave her pleasure, which she still more unconsciously betrayed in her manner; and it was Dunallan himself who led her to perceive this: she felt that he read her very soul, and was soon convinced, by the indifference of his manner, that if her displeasure had given him pain, her feeling satisfaction in that pain had not only done it away, but had also lowered her in his opinion.

CHAPTER IV

ONE evening Lord Dunallan sent for his daughter. On her entering the apartment in which he waited for her, he met her, and with even more than his usual tenderness, pressed her to his heart.

"My dear Catharine, my beloved child, my long-dreaded trial is at last come; I must at last part with the idol of my affections."

Catharine became as pale as death at this sudden intimation of her approaching fate. For some moments she could not speak; then struggling for composure,—

"Is Mr. Dunallan still desirous to. voice trembled, and she stopt.

" her

Her father hesitated, "My love, what is your opinion of Mr. Dunallan? You now know him. Tell me candidly, my Catharine, your sentiments respecting him.'

"And will my opinion, will my sentiments, have any influence over the future?" asked Catharine eagerly.

Lord Dunallan looked uneasy: "If, my love, I could make any change. . . if you could not feel -but it is impossible. Yet I should wish could you only love him, Catharine, Oh! how happy should I be, happier than I can express."

"Be happy, then, my dear Father," replied Catharine, attempting to smile; but the tears

gushed into her eyes, and she turned away to conceal them.

Her Father remained silent for some moments, then sighing deeply said, "Mr. Dunallan, Í think, my Catharine, ought to please. He is mild, and sensible, and polité in his manners; he is handsome; his conversation does not seem uninteresting to you; he is singularly well informed. In short, what do you find disagreeable in Mr. Dunallan ?"

"I do not find any thing disagreeable," said Catharine; "but...

"Do you not, my love ?" interrupted Lord Dunallan joyfully. "How you delight me! Well, I will ask no more."

Catharine smiled languidly; she felt hurt, and made no reply.

Her Father understood the expression of her countenance, and paused a moment, then proceeded. "I have just had a conversation with Mr. Dunallan. He tells me he has received letters which oblige him to be in London in a month; he will be detained there some time, and may perhaps go abroad. In short, my love, he wishes to hasten your union, that you may, I suppose, spend a short time at Arnmore before you leave Scotland; for there also he has business of importance, which has met with much delay from his residence here for so many weeks."

Catharine reddened. "And his convenience makes it necessary, I suppose, to hurry over the business which brought him here; and you, my Lord, expect me to agree to❞

My love, you do Mr. Dunallan great injustice; he has in no instance forgot the respect

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and delicacy due to you: his first wish seems to be your happiness."

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My happiness!" repeated Catharine, "ah, let him leave me with you, then, my dear Father -at least till he has arranged all these affairs." "He proposed this, my Child, but I declined

it"

"Declined it!" exclaimed Catharine, "impossible! Oh, my dear Father, could you so far forget all that is due to your daughter! to my

sex!"

She rose and stood, with breathless and terrified expectation, awaiting his answer.

He in a soothing manner took both her hands. "Be calm, my Catharine, your father has forgot nothing which your delicacy ought to require; nothing which he can suppose essential to your future happiness. Mr. Dunallan, I am certain, loves you Catharine."

She turned away.

"You do not think he does, my love; but from his whole manner, and the anxious solicitude he showed respecting your wishes, feelings, and future happiness, I feel convinced you would now be the choice of his heart, were he freed from all engagements.

"And as a proof of this," said Catharine with bitterness, "he asks delay. Oh, my dear Father, pity me! do not urge this! do not thus mortify"

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My love, you must allow me to trust my You entirely misown judgment in this matter. take Mr. Dunallan. He only proposes delay with a view to what might be your wish. Recollect yourself, my child, and let me hope, my ever kind, ever considerate Catharine, that you