as ever; or
perhaps more endearing than ever, as it was the first time she had
beheld him with hope. Mr. Sandford did _not_ appear the same; yet he was
in reality as surly and as disrespectful in his behaviour to her as
usual; but she did not observe, or she did not feel his morose temper as
heretofore--he seemed amiable, mild, and gentle; at least this was the
happy medium through which her self-complacent mind began to see him;
for good humour, like the jaundice, makes every one of its own
complexion.

CHAPTER III.

Lord Elmwood was preparing to go abroad, for the purpose of receiving in
form, the dispensation from his vows; it was, however, a subject he
seemed carefully to avoid speaking upon; and when by any accident he was
obliged to mention it, it was without any marks either of satisfaction
or concern.

Miss Milner's pride began to be alarmed. While he was Mr. Dorriforth,
and confined to a single life, his indifference to her charms was rather
an honourable than a reproachful trait in his character, and in reality,
she admired him for the insensibility. But on the eve of being at
liberty, and on the eve of making his choice, she was offended _that_
choice was not immediately fixed upon her. She had been accustomed to
receive the devotion of every man who saw her, and not to obtain it of
the man from whom, of all others, she most wished it, was cruelly
humiliating. She complained to Miss Woodley, who advised her to have
patience; but that was one of the virtues in which she was the least
practised.

Encouraged, nevertheless, by her friend in the commendable desire of
gaining the affections of him, who possessed all her own, she, however,
left no means unattempted for the conquest--but she began with too great
a certainty of success, not to be sensible of the deepest mortification
in the disappointment--nay, she anticipated a disappointment, as she had
before anticipated her success; by turns feeling the keenest emotions
from hope and from despair.

As these passions alternately governed her, she was alternately in
spirits or dejected; in good or in ill humour; and the vicissitudes of
her prospect at length gave to her behaviour an air of caprice, which
not all her follies had till now produced. This was not the way to
secure the affections of Lord Elmwood; she knew it was not; and before
him she was under some restriction. Sandford observed this, and without
reserve, added to the list of her other