"The compliments of my twa friends, Miss Grizzy and Miss Babie Douglas, to you, kinsmon."

"Miss who?"

"The Miss Douglases o' Douglas Glen." "And who are they, ma foi? What do they know about me?"

"They seem to know more good aboot ye than we're likely to know, except fra' them. My letter is a' aboot you, and your gallant behaviour to them in an hour o' peril."

Mr. Lindsay rubbed his hands, and looked proudly at his son.

"Come tell us all about it, my dear boy," he cried.

"There's nothing to tell, sir."

Perhaps," suggested Mrs. Lindsay, "Miss Tibby would kindly read her letter. That will spare our dear Julian the unpleasant office of sounding his own praise."

"Oh do, Miss Tibby," cried all present. And Miss Tibby, with an important air, began,

"It's only a letter fra' Grizzy Douglas;

we've corresponded for mony years, but I have na seen Grizzy since I left Scotland. She was a fine woman then, and Babie was a pretty wee lassie."

They can't be the same," said Julian. "Those I saw are neither fine women nor pretty lassies, but two old scarecrows like."

"They're my friends, kinsmon; they're may be na sae young as they have been, but ye'll grow auld yoursel' one day, may be.”

"I do not complain of people's growing old, Miss Tibby-that cannot be helped. What I blame is the mania in the old for growing young again."

"It's no to be wondered at, when people see how much age is despised in the present day, kinsmon, that they seek to conceal it." And she put up the letter.

"Oh, do read it," said all in one voice, including Grunter, who was waiting for his tea, which Augusta (interested in the letter) had not poured out.

After much entreaty, Miss Tibby began,

"My dear Friend,

"Bruce Cottage, Aberdeen Place. "London, September 4th, 1840.

"You'll be surprised to hear from us so sune, and from such a place. Ye dinna deserve a letter, for ye never answered our last. However, I ken you've much to occupy your time, and you are na of the scribbling schule o' modern times, when lassies ken mair o' the pen than of the needle -the waur for them and those about them. Our present object in writing is to acknowledge a great service done us by your young kinsmon, Julian Lindsay. Scarce had we set fute in Lunnon town, when twa fause Southrons, men o' name and family, and fine dress and figure, offered their civilities, and being alane, we accepted them, when a' at ance, ain o' them tried to rob Babie o' na less a treasure than Rufus, wha is with us of coorse, and was jist snug asleep in her basket, his eyes shut on this sinfu' town, as weel they might be. Your young kinsmon, by gude luck, passing by, came forward in a manner worthy of his kith and kin; he rescued

Rufus, and behaved in sae modest, discreet, and noble a manner that we think him jist an honour to the name o' Lindsay, and to auld Scotland, and when you're a' in town, we'll e'en be glad to see him to tea at Bruce Cottage, Aberdeen Place, whenever he can spare time fra' his studies-he'll na doot give ye a history of our peril. I think the mon was na gentlemon at a', but just had had a peep at Rufus, and may be thought the queen, God bless her sacred majesty! might tak a fancy to the noble creature, wha has na parallel, my dear, and pay a bonny sum for him; but Babie inclines to the notion, that the mon is a nobleman, who took a liking to Rufus for her sake, and jist carried him off in order to have an excuse for calling to bring him bock agen. I dinna ken, she may be right for a' that.

"She was here when I began this letter, but she's off now, jist being mad after every kind o' gaiety. She's awa' to the Baker Street Bazaar, alane, for I'm na that weel, and dinna frequent crooded places o' fashionable

resort; they suit na my age nor my taste. I hope Babie will na meet him (gentle or simple) who tried to carry Rufus awa'. I fear the lassie is but too weel disposed in his favour. She's to gang to-night to a grand play over the water, at a place ca'ed the Surrey, wi' a fellow-traveller of ours, Mr. Burster, a man weel to do, but na genteel. She thinks he has an eye to her, but I would never consent to such a disgrace to the family o' Douglas of Douglas Glen.

"I'll be very glad when ye come to town, for then Babie can gang aboot to a' the gay places wi' ye a', and have a suitable attendant as I tell her, in your young kinsmon, to whom I mak na objections, and wi' mony thanks to him and respects to his father, I remain ever your well-wisher and friend,

"GRISELDA DOUGLAS O' Douglas Glen."

“Ha! ha! ha! I go to tea at Bruce Cottage, Aberdeen Place! What do you think of that, Miss Tibby?"

"I think you might do waur, kinsmon."