to her guests-when looking up, he called— "Shall I walk to the stables now, and examine the state of your stud, or shall I wait for you ?”

66

"I am no judge of horses," answered the Countess so I shall leave that department entirely to you,”—and she passed on to the saloon, before Miss Pratt could find words to express her indignation at finding he had already begun to interfere in the Rossville menage. All was now leave-taking-regrets, compliments, promises and invitations, and final adieus-and the trio at length were wheeled off. Much solace they found in each other's society during the drive, for each and all of them had something to animadvert upon as to the state of affairs at Rossville.

Uncle Adam missed Miss Pratt at dinner, and the kind message she had left for him with Mrs St Clair was not delivered. Lyndsay was out of spirits, and Lady Rossville was inattentive; and, in short, uncle Adam began to feel himself one too many. He was also within two

pages of the end of Guy Mannering; and, there

fore, upon retiring to his chamber, he sent off a line to the Blue Boar, desiring a chaise might be sent for him the following morning at six o'clock.

CHAPTER VI.

Ah! what will not a woman do who loves!
What means will she refuse to keep that heart
Where all her joys are placed !

DRYDEN.

THE seeds of false shame were beginning to be sown in Lady Rossville's heart, and she was secretly pleased when she heard of uncle Adam's intended departure. She felt the contrast between Colonel Delmour and him'was too much; the gulf seemed impassable that was betwixt them, and it was painful to her to feel that she was ashamed of her uncle.

"I wonder why I never felt this with Edward Lyndsay," thought she; "it must be that he is not so refined in his ideas as Delmour," and with that answer the thought passed away from her mind. She, however, pressed her uncle to wait breakfast, and to accept of her carriage to take

him home; but he was resolute in taking his own way, which was commonly the most uncomfortable that could be contrived.

"Fare ye weel," said he, with something of softness in his look and manner; 66 ye want naething frae me, so you'll tak naething."

"No, indeed, my dear uncle," said Gertrude, affectionately shaking his hand, "I do not require any thing; but I shall always remember your kindness to me when I did; I only wish I could make you as happy as-as I am myself," added she, with a smile and a blush.

Mr Ramsay shook his head, and uttered something betwixt a groan and a hem.

"Weel, weel, I wish it may last, but 'rue and thyme grow baith in ae garden ;' but I need nae fash to gi'e ye ony o' my advice, for whan folk need naething else, they'll no tak that; so fare ye weel;"—and with something amounting almost to a squeeze of the hand, in its own uncouth way, the uncle and niece parted. Her relief from the presence of her mother's relations was, however, of short duration.

The following days were almost entirely devoted to business, for Lord Millbank and Mr Alex

ander Black came to Rossville, and long meetings and discussions ensued, at many of which Gertrude was obliged to be present, to her and Colonel Delmour's infinite weariness and chagrin. His only solace, during the hours she was shut up from him, was in lounging about the house and grounds, devising plans of useless expence, which he longed impatiently to have put in execution. No views of beneficence or charity made any part of his schemes; his every idea centered in selfindulgence, and luxury and magnificence were all to which he looked as his recompense.

At length the business was brought to a conclusion, and Gertrude was once more at liberty, for Mrs St Clair, after several ineffectual attempts to gain the entire direction of her daughter, and the control of her every action, found it vain, and she was therefore obliged to carry the reins with a light hand, lest the Countess should have sought to free herself from them altogether.

Lyndsay alone, of all the guests, now remained, and he still lingered, as though loth to give her up entirely to the influence of Colonel DelHe was aware, that the heart cannot be long and exclusively devoted to one object, with

mour.