Isabella Featherstone observed his altered manner, and supposed that he was endeavouring to make amends for his abrupt and uncourteous manner of the preceding day. All the party, indeed, thought that a remarkable change had taken place in Mr. Martindale, but no one thought of attributing the change to any thing else than a little caprice. Isabella took great pains to show how ready she was to accept the practical apology, which she conceived was thus offered by the old gentleman. She talked therefore with more than her usual fluency, and exclaimed with more than usual rapture at every thing which could at all vindicate or allow of rapturous exclamation. The remains of antiquity, the works of modern art, the heathen temple or Christian church, were in their turns all complimented to the utmost of the young lady’s power of eloquence. Unmeaning compliments are inexhaustible; and well it is that they are so, or the great abundance and almost infinite variety which was drawn forth from Mr. Martindale’s portfolios would have puzzled and perplexed the flatterer. To all this commendatory language the old gentleman was silent; and the party, who could not but notice the fluency of Isabella’s compliments, began to tremble for her, thinking that the old gentleman was silently meditating some keen satirical retort; the usual coin in which such geniuses as he repay the volubility of superabundant compliment. But their fears and apprehensions were unfounded. The young lady continued unexhausted and unreproved. To examine a very large collection of prints and drawings, especially when an interest is felt or affected, occupies no inconsiderable portion of time. So the morning was rapidly passing away, and might have been entirely consumed by this amusement, had it not been for an interruption which put a stop to their employment. A servant announced that the Rev. Mr. Denver and another gentleman wished to speak with Mr. Martindale on particular business. The old gentleman was not best pleased with the interruption. Impatiently asking the servant into which room he had introduced the gentlemen, he immediately followed the man out of the apartment; and such was his haste, that he never thought to put out of his hand an engraving which he was just about to show to his party, but carried the print with him.