er behaviour, but her very
thoughts, within the limitation her friend should prescribe. Miss
Woodley at length yielded thus far, "That as soon as Lord Elmwood was
set out on his journey to Italy, where she had heard him say that he
should soon be obliged to go, she would no longer deny her the pleasure
of returning; and if (after the long absence which must consequently
take place between him and her) she could positively affirm the
suppression of her passion was the happy result, she would then take her
word, and risk the danger of seeing them once more reside together."

This concession having been obtained, they parted; and as winter was now
far advanced, Miss Woodley returned to her aunt's house in town, from
whence Mrs. Horton was, however, preparing to remove, in order to
superintend Lord Elmwood's house, (which had been occupied by the late
Earl,) in Grosvenor Square; and her niece was to accompany her.

If Lord Elmwood was not desirous Miss Milner should conclude her visit
and return to his protection, it was partly from the multiplicity of
affairs in which he was at this time engaged, and partly from having Mr.
Sandford now entirely placed with him as his chaplain; for he dreaded,
that living in the same house, their natural antipathy might be
increased even to aversion. Upon this account, he once thought of
advising Mr. Sandford to take up his abode elsewhere; but the great
pleasure he took in his society, joined to the bitter mortification he
knew such a proposal would be to his friend, would not suffer him to
make it.

Miss Milner all this time was not thinking upon those she hated, but on
those she loved. Sandford never came into her thoughts, while the image
of Lord Elmwood never left them. One morning, as she sat talking to Lady
Luneham on various subjects, but thinking alone on him, Sir Harry
Luneham, with another gentleman, a Mr. Fleetmond, came in, and the
conversation turned upon the improbability, during the present Lord
Elmwood's youth, that he should ever inherit the title and estate which
had now fallen to him--and, said Mr. Fleetmond, "Independent of rank and
fortune, it must be matter of infinite joy to Mr. Dorriforth."

"No," answered Sir Harry, "independent of rank and fortune, it must be a
motive of concern to him; for he must now regret, beyond measure, his
folly in taking priest's orders, thus depriving himself of the hopes of
an heir, so that his title, at his death, will be lost."

"