one year, free of rent and taxes; but he would not consent, and Mrs. Mortimer was always blamed for a circumstance in which she had no concern.

Sir Timothy remained sometime absent from Brighton. Mr. Abraham Modish went to town, and Mrs. and Miss Modish frequently came to Mrs. Mortimer. She really pitied those ladies, believing that they had nothing to do with the impositions practised on the Baronet, and she felt it was natural for a mother to wish to see her daughter well married. She thought, that although the old woman was vulgar, she might have a good heart, and the daughter, poor thing, was endeavouring to be a fine lady, which was not to be wondered at, as she supposed she should soon be the wife of one of the oldest English baronets. Miss Charlotte Modish had a lady to teach her the harp, but from her fingers being short, she cut them dreadfully, and her legs being also not of common length, the harp

proved to be an instrument not calculated to set her person off to advantage; but, as has before been observed, the Modishes were a family who possessed great perseverance, and she was indefatigable to give pleasure to her brother, Mr. Alexander Modish. Mr. Symphony also instructed her, and at the expiration of a fortnight she could play two tunes. The lady who taught her was delighted with such a pupil, and wishing for her patro nage, proposed, for the moderate sum of twenty guineas, to dedicate some harp sonatas to Miss Charlotte Modish. Of course this was agreed to; Madame Dwas very well pleased with the bargain, and as she had a little time to spare, she consented, for double pay, give double lessons, and if they liked little musical evening parties, she would attend for a mere trifle.

to

Was ever any thing so lucky? When Sir Timothy returned they would cer tainly avail themselves of the offer, and if

they could get acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Discord, as the lady had formerly been a public singer, she would have no objection to lend her vocal powers, and when Mr. Abraham Modish came from Town, an elegant dinner was to be given; three courses, a dessert, French wines, and every thing in the first style of expence. Twenty-eight persons were invited.

But, alas! when the day arrived, they waited dinner till eight o'clock, and only four made their appearance; Mr. and Mrs. Discord, Colonel Ortolan, and the Lieutenant of Militia. This was enough to provoke a saint, but Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Modish had been used to disappointments of this nature, and as they were now Christians, they bore them with christian fortitude. In the evening they had a concert, and Miss Modish gained some improvement from hearing Mrs. Discord.

Mrs. Pattypan sent in her bill, but Mrs. Modish thinking the charges too

high, requested Mrs. Pattypan would come to her immediately. Mrs. Pattypan accordingly attended, but could not be convinced of any error she had committed, nor would she consent to reduce any of the charges in her bill. Mrs. Modish, although very mild, had a proper sense of injuries, and resented them in powerful language; to this Mrs. Pattypan made a spirited retort. Mrs. Modish could not think of submitting to such impertinence, and gave a gentle shove to Mrs. Pattypan, which she returned, and departed. Mr. Abraham Modish being informed of what had passed, could not suffer his wife to be insulted, and directly applied to a solicitor in Brighton, to bring an action against Mrs. Pattypan, for an assault. The solicitor, who was a very respectable person, and possessed sound sense, recommended that the ladies should settle the dispute amicably, and it was generally supposed that this advice had due weight, as Mrs. Pattypan's

demands were paid, and Mrs. Modish appeared with that rosy health and happy smile which always delighted her admiring friends, and the community at large.

What really was a subject of wonder to those not accustomed to the manners of polite society, was that the persons who partook of Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Modish's good cheer never took any notice of them out of their own house; they would pass them in the street, stare them in the face, and never touch their hats. Miss Charlotte Modish did not approve of this, and some said the reason. she never walked was that she could not bear to subject herself to such neglect: others advanced, that the gentle creature thought she appeared to most advantage in a carriage, as she was quite as tall sitting as standing. This problem, however, was never determined, but certain it is, that she seldom trusted her Sylph-like form to be beheld in the common attitude of a pedestrian.