summoned to Mrs. Fraser, Miss Maclean's aunt, who is dangerously ill in some outlandish part of Ross-shire. A letter has also been sent to me in town to prevent my coming yet, and this one is forwarded here in order to "make assurance doubly sure." I am not to join them for three weeks. Three weeks! She might as well have said a century. What in the name of Ennui am I to do in the interval? In this dull-looking town there is nobody to be seen I suppose at this time of the year. I wish I had not been in such a devil of a hurry to get away from my creditors; or rather I wish they had not been so troublesome.

I have this moment received your epistle. What a comical one it is; all surprise and questions. Can it be—have you then proposed to Miss Maclean, and has she accepted you? You entreat me to tell you the truth, and nothing but the truth. What energy of expression-what eager anxiety! Why, I verily believe you must have had some thought of

her yourself; if so, my dear Alfred the Great, put those useless thoughts into your pocket, or throw them away at once, for I vow I will not give her up after coming all this way for her.

The truth, however, you shall know, and to begin by the beginning, Belier mon ami. I will tell you, what you perhaps already know, that there is an affinity, though no relationship, between me and Miss Maclean, my aunt being the wife of her maternal uncle Sir George Stonor, with whom she has resided these two years, ever since the death of her father. Before that time the aunt, who is now ill in Ross-shire, and the cause of my present annoyance, always lived with her and Mr. Maclean at his place, Belmont Castle in Perthshire. Her mother having died when she was a child, Flora accompanied Sir George and Lady Stonor abroad, and spent two years with them in Switzerland and Italy. On their return they passed three months in London. How

admired she was from her extraordinary beauty you well know; her soft gentle manners were also thought very captivating. My aunt Stonor, who is a plodding sort of good-natured woman, and has a proper sense of nepotism, was anxious this treasure should be ingrafted on her own family. Not being blessed with sons herself, her wise plan adopted your humble servant as the object for this good fortune. Of course I had therefore plenty of opportunities afforded me towards charming the lovely heiress, and I sometimes think I did not make sufficient use of them. One has so much to do in town just in May and Juneinvitation upon invitation-dinner parties without end. It is almost impossible to devote oneself to one object solely-the country is the place for such a purpose.

Besides, to tell you the exact state of things, Flora being rather an unknown personage at first setting out, one would not commit oneself by being her absolute cicisbeo. However,

when she came to be called the Beauty, and when she had refused Lord Dunceinfield, it became quite the thing to admire her; and we soon grew better acquainted. I believe I am the only person who could make her laugh, for she certainly is too grave and sentimental as times go. Indeed I have some

times thought she was a saint. Yet she is piquante too occasionally, and can say droll things in a quiet manner. Her ideas are quite original; but she is rather inclined to be silent, and I do not think will make a scolding wife. I believe her to be very much given to reading and to writing. Tant mieux, en avant le sentiment!

My aunt was very sanguine about her liking nie, and I believe I managed to turn the pretty creature's head. I make no doubt I am the beau ideal of all the novels she reads. She certainly "never told her love;" but did not "sit like Patience on a monument," for never did a girl shew a greater propensity for danc

ing, or look more delighted when I honoured her with my very scarce hand in a quadrille or a waltz. Once or twice indeed I thought of proposing, but my aunt dissuaded me. She said there were too many competitors in town, but that at Belmont Castle l'amour érait son train. So it was settled that I should visit them about this time; and now, lo! and behold, things are put off by this bothering old lady's malapropos illness, and Flora's removal, in consequence, from the intended scene of my conquest. Il faut esperer que cela se retrou

vera.

Adieu. I have written you a volume, and am tired. I am afraid you are the same.

C. S.