heads in her History of England,'—she has a genius that way, her poor mother used to be very clever in-what they call-I can't recollect, --but it was cutting holes in cards, and painting through them-something about tinting I think -no- -if you don't like to write, I'll dictate a note to Hutton, and then he can take it himself to the post-office. I want to send my watch down to Stephenson's shop, for somehow, I have lost -or dropped-or mislaid my watch-key; I dare say it is somewhere under the sofa cushions: however, he'd better go and get me another; and then Stephenson can set my watch by the church clock. I only found out half an hour ago that it has not been going since Tuesday, when I set it last."

I could scarcely keep silence during this beautiful illustration of my helpless brother's character, which developed itself in every action of his life, if action the evitation of all movement in which he delighted could be called. However, I wanted to hear the conclusion of his labour

saving scheme, before I suggested to him that my wife would probably be the properest person to give the invitation.

"Oh! certainly," said Cuthbert; "but that will give her a great deal of trouble: and then so near her confinement,-somebody had better write it in her name."

"No, my dear brother," said I," Harriet is quite strong enough to write a letter; she likes employment both mental and bodily,—she'll be delighted."

"So shall I," said my brother; "but it is quite wonderful to see her; and to think,—Oh dear, dear, what a heap of trials women have to undergo! Yes; then that, I think, will be the best way, it will look civil, and attentive, and kind. I wonder I had not thought of that at first."

"I suppose," said I, "it had better be done immediately?"

"Yes, certainly," replied Cuthbert; " Kitty was very anxious about it this morning, because

D 3

I think she told me the lady was gone somewhere —where, I don't remember-to stay for a fortnight, from whence she could take this on her way home. I'm sure you'll like her she is so lady-like in her manners, and so gentle, and talks so well, and so very much attached to the children."

"That her presence will be agreeable to you," said I," is, as I have already said, sufficient of itself to render her a welcome visiter here."

"There's another thing the girls told me to ask you," said Cuthbert; "your youngest sisterin-law has been talking to them about-oh dear, my head-about some very clever dancing-master who lives here; and they were saying, if you had no objection, they should like to take lessons three or four times a-week for an hour or two,-it would put them forward,—how they can take this trouble I don't understand; but they are young and light, to be sure,—and so, -I said I would ask you. The drawing-room isn't used in the mornings, and perhaps "

"Oh, certainly," said I; "they will not in the least interfere with us-only, perhaps, when Harriet is confined, we may—”

66

"Oh, that's another matter," said Cuthbert;

Kitty has got all the particulars of the man's terms; and I had the paper yesterday, but I'm sure I haven't any idea where it is now. Do just ring the bell, Gilbert; I'll get Hutton to look for it, and then he can take a message about it." rang the bell, and Hutton appeared.

I

"Have you seen," said Cuthbert to the servant, "a paper about the terms of a dancingmaster that Miss Falwasser gave me yesterday?"

"Yes, Sir," said Hutton, "Mr. Kittington; I have been there, Sir,-to his house. Miss Falwasser told me to desire him to call upon you to-day he said he would be here at three. I thought, Sir, Miss had told you so herself, or I should have mentioned it."

"Oh, that's all very convenient," said Cuthbert; "I'll see him when he comes. Where are

the young ladies ?”

"Out in the laundry, I believe, Sir," said Hutton, "acting a play; Master Tom has got some fireworks there, and they are all dressed up; and Miss Fanny Wells, and her sister, and Mr. Merman are there."

"Dear me," said Cuthbert; "what a pity they don't come and act here; it would amuse us excessively; it is quite out of the question going all the way across the court-yard. What droll things, eh?”

This all sounded mighty playful and extremely pretty; but the circumstances, the free and easy manner of Miss Kitty Falwasser considered, are not altogether satisfactory to me, I confess. It was clear that the two girls entirely managed their indolent father-in-law; and that the elder one, fully conscious of her power over him, had, having merely expressed a wish, and asked permission to take lessons in dancing, reckoned his compliance so much as a matter of course, as not to think it necessary to wait even till she had obtained it, before she sent for the Terpsichorean professor. As to my opinion or objection upon