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Hobson said " It was a monstrous pity though, for all her great fortune would most likely be spent in building meetinghouses and supporting preachers, who, generally speaking, were a parcel of canting, cheating hypocrites."

"I am very glad that Miss took herself off when she did," observed Kate, "for she would have made us quite un-. comfortable; you know the Methodists call cards the devil's books, and she would not have touched one for the world."

"It is monstrous odd though," said Hobson," that a young pretty girl like her should turn Methodist."

Kate Bridgemore was not pleased at Hobson's thinking Miss Fitzallan pretty. -"La! what odds can it make to you, Mr. Hobson," asked she, in a sharp accent," whether she is a Methodist or not? you seem to be in a mighty fuss about her."

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Why, sure, Miss Kitty," returned Hobson," you are not jealous, and out of temper,

temper, because I just observed that Miss Fitzallan was a pretty girl?"

"Pretty!" repeated Kate; " if beauty is a sin, she has none to answer for; but it shews your judgment, Mr. Hobson," scornfully pushing away the arm he had thrown round her waist. 66

a face as white as

'Pretty indeed! with a parsnip!-jealous of you too! that's a good joke truly !—but I always said you did not want for conceit."

"Conceit!" repeated the offended beau; "much obliged to your good opinion, Miss Kitty-I don't see that there is much conceitedness in the matter though, and if I had my pocketbook with me, I could shew you, mem-only it would not be right to expose ladies letters."

"Oh, la! now he is going to talk about his love-letters!-well, if that is not conceit, I wonder what is-but I can shew love-letters too if I please don't you go to suppose, sir, but what I have had offers -I am not a fright, I believe, if I am not

so pretty as Miss Fitzallan, and the offer

“Dear me, what nonsense, Miss Kitty!" said Miss Hobson; “has not every young lady offers?-come now, make it up-what is the use of being offended? Dicky meant no harm, and I am sure he prefers you to all your sec."

"I don't care a pin's point whether he does or not," replied Kate. "I am sure his eyes were on the full stare upon Miss Fitzallan all the while she was in the room, and that did not look very like as if he preferred me-but it does not signify; every body to their fancy, you know."

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Dicky stared at her, because she look ed so dismal, all in black," rejoined Miss Hobson-" did not you, Dicky?"

"To be sure I did," returned he-" what else could I stare at?"

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Come, come, kiss and be friends," said Larkins "the quarrels of lovers is the re

newal of love."

"Mr

"Mr. Hobson is no lover of mine," replied Kate.

"La, Miss Kitty, what a story!" said Miss Hobson; "I am sure Dicky thinks of nobody but you, and it was only this very morning he told 'pa so."

་ ་

"And what did your 'pa say?" asked Kate; " but I suppose he told him he would not give his consent."

"No he did not," said Hobson; "old dad was in a monstrous good-humour, and said as how he had no objections to my marrying you, if your 'pa would come down with a little of the dust, and that he would call upon him and propose the match."

Miss Kitty's countenance cleared — "Did he though indeed?" said she, smiling upon her beau, whom she now not only suffered to press her hand, but to take a kiss also.

"I wonder who is to speak for Martha and me?" said Jerry Larkins.

"You

"You must speak for yourself, replied Martha; " and as 'pa can't very well do without you, why you know we have some chance of getting his consent."

Mrs. Bridgemore and the supper now entered, and the proposal was made by Larkins, that they should all go to the play the following evening.

"To be sure we will," said Mrs. Bridgemore; "it is not very often that my husband goes from home, and it is but fair that we should take our pleasure while he is abstent; when he comes back, there will be no such thing as going to a playhe will make us keep house strict enough."

"And I shall send and ask George Cotton to be one of our party," said Miss Hobson," for he is such monstrous entertaining company, and understands a play

as well as the actors."

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Why, people say he has been an actor himself," observed Hobson.

"Ay, Dicky, that's all your spite," replied his sister, "because he is so much

cleverer