earthly reason why she should be interested in the various excellences of the future Lady Merton, allowed her thoughts to wander, and was only roused from her reverie by her hand being taken—a little rapture being deemed necessary at her consent—so her silence had been interpreted—and kissed with as much devotedness as Merton could shew any one but himself. Surprised and angry, she rose from her seat, and exclaimed, "I really do not understand"—a sentence Lord Morton did not give her time to finish; for, ascribing her retreat to embarrassment, he was most desirous of sustaining her under the weight of obligation, lest her gratitude should be quite fatiguing. Slowly the conviction broke upon him that she had not heard what he had been saying.
"Am I to understand, madam, that you have not listened to what I was mentioning? "
Now really sorry and confused, Emily pleaded headach,—said she could not account for her absence of mind,—made a thousand excuses,—entreated him to mention what he had been saying again, a glimmering idea having crossed her mind of a charity fair, about which he had been affecting much interest; and referring his thanks to his supposing she had pro-
