him again and again to come - much oftener than he doubted - and was extremely gratified by such a proof of intimacy, such a distinguishing compliment as she chose to consider it.

`You may depend upon me,' said she. `I certainly will come. Name your day, and I will come. You will allow me to bring Jane Fairfax?'

`I cannot name a day,' said he, `till I have spoken to some others whom I would wish to meet you.'

`Oh! leave all that to me. Only give me a carte-blanche. - I am Lady Patroness, you know. It is my party. I will bring friends with me.'

`I hope you will bring Elton,' said he: `but I will not trouble you to give any other invitations.'

`Oh! now you are looking very sly. But consider - you need not be afraid of delegating power to me. I am no young lady on her preferment. Married women, you know, may be safely authorised. It is my party. Leave it all to me. I will invite your guests.'

`No,' - he calmly replied, - `there is but one married woman in the world whom I can ever allow to invite what guests she pleases to Donwell, and that one is - '

` - Mrs. Weston, I suppose,' interrupted Mrs. Elton, rather mortified.

`No - Mrs. Knightley; - and till she is in being, I will manage such matters myself.'

`Ah! you are an odd creature!' she cried, satisfied to have no one preferred to herself. - `You are a humourist, and may say what you like. Quite a humourist. Well, I shall bring Jane with me - Jane and her aunt. - The rest I leave to you. I have no objections at all to meeting the Hartfield family. Don't scruple. I know you are attached to them.'

`You certainly will meet them if I can prevail; and I shall call on Miss Bates in my way home.'

`That's quite unnecessary; I see Jane every day: - but as you like. It is to be a morning scheme, you know, Knightley; quite a simple thing. I shall wear a large bonnet, and bring one of my little baskets hanging on my arm. Here, - probably this basket with pink ribbon. Nothing can be more simple, you see. And Jane will have such another. There is to be no form or parade - a sort of gipsy party. We are to walk about your gardens, and gather the strawberries ourselves, and sit under trees; - and whatever else you may like to provide, it is to be all out of doors - a table spread in the shade, you know. Every thing as natural and simple as possible. Is not that your idea?'

`Not quite. My idea of the simple and the natural will be to have the table spread in the dining-room. The nature and the simplicity of gentlemen and ladies, with their servants and furniture, I think is best observed by meals within doors. When you are tired of eating strawberries in the garden, there shall be cold meat in the house.'

`Well - as you please; only don't have a great set out. And, by the bye, can I or my housekeeper be of any use to you with our opinion? - Pray be sincere, Knightley. If you wish me to talk to Mrs. Hodges, or to inspect anything - '

`I have not the least wish for it, I thank you.'

`Well - but if any difficulties should arise, my housekeeper is extremely clever.'

`I will answer for it, that mine thinks herself full as clever, and would spurn any body's assistance.'

`I wish we had a donkey. The thing would be for us all to come on donkeys, Jane, Miss Bates, and me - and my caro sposo walking by. I really must talk to him about purchasing a donkey. In a country life