"A mortification, my dear Sir!" ejaculated the Major.

"Yes, just a mortification-what is there wonderful in that ?”

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Why, I must say, I think, uncle, considering" gasped Mrs Waddell, vainly trying to preserve her unruffled dignity-" how much is done for the lower classes, now, I really think the higher ranks stand quite as much in need of mortifications."

"I think sae too, so it's lucky we're baith agreed."

“I can assure you, uncle, although it's a thing I would not choose to say to everybody, the Major finds he has quite enough to do with his money."

"I dinna doot it."

"There is so much required now to support one's rank in the world, that, I assure you, it is no joke."

“Joke—wha said it was a joke ?”

"In short, uncle, I can assure you, in spite of the appearance we make in the eyes of the world, the Major and I both find ourselves pinched

enough, and he now doubts very much about buying a place; although certainly Thornbank does not suit us in many respects-the house is very indifferent-we have only one drawingroom, and, with his connections, that is not the thing—and the garden is really a poor affair; so that, altogether, I am really anxious the Major should find another residence."

"He'll maybe find ane at Bloom-Park before it's lang," said uncle Adam drily.

"O! uncle, I'm sure we never thought of that, and I thought you said you were going to make a mortification of it ?"

"So I am but it's to be a mortification as you say for the rich;-it's to be a mortification for thae miserable, unfortunate men, that are married to taupies and haverels that spend a' their substance for them."

Uncle Adam had here broke out into his natural manner, and there is no saying how much plainer he might have spoken, had he not, at that moment, been checked in his career by the entrance of Mr Lyndsay, who was the only person (strange as it may appear) for whom he felt any thing approaching to respect; but there was so

much mildness and calmness of manner, with so much manly dignity in his deportment, that even uncle Adam was ashamed to behave ill before him. The rest of the party came dropping in, and Mrs Waddell, with one cheek very red, was obliged to take her seat in silence; it gradually cooled, however, as she began to think it was just her uncle's way; he liked a rough joke, and so on; while the Major, for some little time, sat revolving whether he should not call upon the old man to say what he meant—if there was any thing personal in his allusion he--but the poor Major, even to himself, could not say what he would do -at last, he too gulped down the affront with his last dish of tea, and, by the time breakfast was over, both were ready to enter the lists again with uncle Adam.

Upon hearing of the proposed departure of the Major and lady, Gertrude said all that was necessary on the occasion; but she was too sincere to be pressing in her entreaties for them to prolong their stay; she felt that her relations were ridiculous, and she saw they were despised by Colonel Delmour. It was rather a relief, therefore, to hear they were going away. Any defi

ciencies on her part were, however, amply atoned for by Miss Pratt, who was vehement in her remonstrances, assuring them they had seen nothing of Rossville yet, that it was really no visit at all; people scarcely knew one another's faces till they had spent at least three days together, &c.

In spite of all that could be urged by Miss Pratt, however, the Major and lady remained fixed in their purpose to return home; all they would concede was to remain part of the morning, and the carriage and Cæsar were ordered to be in readiness accordingly.

The breakfast party, with the exception of Lyndsay, having lounged over their repast to the utmost length of procrastination, read their letters and newspapers, pampered their dogs, and in short, done all that idle people do to kill time, even at his very outset, en masse, were severally sauntering away to try their skill individually, each their own way, when, as uncle Adam was retreating, Mrs Waddell followed him into the anti-room, and was as usual followed by the Major.

"Before we go, uncle, I wish to know if there

is any thing I can do for you; since you don't seem inclined to accompany us at present-Any message to Bloom-Park ?-We shall pass close by it, you know; and, by-the-bye, uncle, I really wish you would give us an order of admittance there-it has a most extraordinary appearance in the eyes of the world that the Major has never yet been within your gate."

"O! my dear Bell, you know, if your uncle has any objections to showing his grounds

"Weel, weel, dinna plague me, since it's to be a mortification at ony rate; gi'e me pen and ink, and ye shall ha'e an order, if that's a'ye want," said Mr Ramsay impatiently.

Pen, ink, and paper, were speedily procured, and uncle Adam, seating himself in a most deliberate manner, produced the order.

Mrs Major glanced her eye upon it, then reddened as she exclaimed

"Such a way of wording it !-Good gracious! uncle, can you suppose I will go on these terms? 'Admit Major Waddell and his wife !'-Wife! I really never met with any thing like that !”

"What is't you mean ?" demanded uncle