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and never consider wha may be waiting dinner for them at hame. Ah! it was na so when I was a lassie, cousin; as the clock struck ain we were a' listening to my puir father's grace over the brose and the haggis; and wha was na present at the thanksgiving was just dispenset wi' at the meat. A wee minute too late, and we might dine where and how we could. Ah, that was the gude gait to mak young folk mind their elders, and larn betimes to be ponctual!"

"That's a most sensible observation, Miss Maxwell," gently observed the obliging Mrs. Lindsay.

"And one we'd surely better act upon," said Grunter, looking at his watch, which he held in his hand. "That lovely turbot will be done to rags-ruined past redemption. As Miss Maxwell observes, old people enforce no discipline, and young people have no idea of obedience, or punctuality."

"It was na sae in my younger days," repeated Tibby, pleased with the success of her observation.

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"But," said Annie, laughing (and with words to which a slight Scotch accent gave a wild sweetness like that the taste of the heather imparts to our northern honey) but, Miss Tibbie, if ye were not unpunctual yersel, ye surely caused others to be so. When young Donald of the Brae, and young Douglas of the Castle, as ye ca them (though they'll be auld eno' by this time)-but when they were watching a' day, round aboot the Grange, as ye've tauld me yersel, for a blink o' yer bonny blue 'ee, they could not be very punctual themselves at their ain father's tables, I'm thinking."

"Well said, my little Annie!" cried old Lindsay. "What say you to that, cousin Tib? and if Julian is, as you suggested, following some ignus-fatuus' eyes into the slough of despond, what is he the worse than young Donald o' the Brae, and young Douglas, and all the other youths of fifty years ago ?"

"Na jist fifty, cousin," said Tibby, halfpleased, half-piqued, drawing herself up.

"What Annie says is somewhat pert for sae young a lassie, but na a'thegither untrue for a' that. The Grange was aye a sad place for making the young men forget that time waits for na man. I'll jist tell you a very clever speech Sandy Maxwell, your great-uncle, Annie, made about it, to the first cousin of Jock Macdonald; but first I must tell ye a' that led to it, it'll wile awa' the time a wee bit till Julian arrives."

Here Miss Tibby settled herself into the attitude of one about to tell a very long story. But this was too much for Grunter. Having slyly pushed the hands of his watch on ten minutes, he held it to Mr. Lindsay.

"It's half past six," he said, in a husky voice, which betrayed his emotion; "a few minutes more, and the turbot will be a wreck !"

A tear glistened in his hard, cold eye. Mr. Lindsay was moved. Miss Tibby, offended at the interruption, had stopped short, after saying "It was in the spring of the year 1799, when first I became acquent wi'

young Donald o' the Brae. I was a young lassie, and mony said a bonnie ain."

Stopped at a moment so interesting to herself, she sat in cold, offended dignity, stroking down her white muslin shawl and apron, and glancing resentfully over her spectacles at Grunter.

"You have stopped Miss Maxwell in such an interesting story," said the accommodating Mrs. Lindsay, "dear Mr. Grunter, but then, of course, you cannot bear your fine purchase to be spoiled. What is to be done?"

"There's but one sensible thing to be done, ma'am," growled Grunter-" to go to dinner at once; that is," he added, recollecting himself, "if Mr. Lindsay pleases."

"Let it be put to the vote," said Mrs. Lindsay.

"Well, I vote for dining directly," said Grunter.

"And you, Miss Maxwell ?"

"I'll jist remain neuter," said the still offended old damsel.

"And so will I, sister," said Mr. Lindsay, who was anxious, as a host, not to disoblige his guests, yet desirous, as a father, to pay his son the attention of waiting for him.

“And you, Annie ?”

"Why, I'd be the better of my dinner," laughed Annie; "and by waiting we're spoiling not only the dinner, but the young gentleman, too."

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Annie," said Grunter, "you're a sensible girl."

"And what do you say, Augusta? Shall we dine now, or wait to see whether your cousin will come?"

Augusta raised her eyes from "Corinne," which she held in her hand as an excuse for not sharing in the conversation, at a time when she was all anxiety for Julian's arrival.

"Dine! Oh, no, not till my cousin comes. I care not if we do not dine at all!"

"What a fool the girl is!" muttered Grunter to himself.

"What a darling !" thought Julian's father. "But, Ellen," remarked Annie,-" Ellen

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