ited at the
door till her carriage drew up.

Piqued--heart-broken--full of resentment against the object of her
uneasiness, and inattentive to all that passed, a hand gently touched
her own; and the most humble and insinuating voice said, "Will you
permit me to lead you to your carriage?" She was awakened from her
revery, and found Lord Frederick Lawnly by her side. Her heart, just
then melting with tenderness to another, was perhaps more accessible
than heretofore; or bursting with resentment, thought this the moment to
retaliate. Whatever passion reigned that instant, it was favourable to
the desires of Lord Frederick, and she looked as if she was glad to see
him: he beheld this with the rapture and the humility of a lover; and
though she did not feel the least particle of love in return, she felt
gratitude in proportion to the insensibility with which she had been
treated by her guardian; and Lord Frederick's supposition was not very
erroneous, if he mistook this gratitude for a latent spark of affection.
The mistake, however, did not force from him his respect: he handed her
to her carriage, bowed low, and disappeared. Miss Woodley wished to
divert her thoughts from the object which could only make her wretched,
and as they rode home, by many encomiums upon Lord Frederick,
endeavoured to incite her to a regard for him; Miss Milner was
displeased at the attempt, and exclaimed,

"What! love a rake, a man of professed gallantry? impossible. To me, a
common rake is as odious as a common prostitute is to a man of the
nicest feelings. Where can be the joy, the pride, of inspiring a passion
which fifty others can equally inspire?"

"Strange," cried Miss Woodley, "that you, who possess so many follies
incident to your sex, should, in the disposal of your heart, have
sentiments so contrary to women in general."

"My dear Miss Woodley," returned she, "put in competition the languid
addresses of a libertine, with the animated affection of a sober man,
and judge which has the dominion? Oh! in my calendar of love, a solemn
Lord Chief Justice, or a devout archbishop, ranks before a licentious
king."

Miss Woodley smiled at an opinion which she knew half her sex would
ridicule; but by the air of sincerity with which it was delivered, she
was convinced her recent behaviour to Lord Frederick was but the mere
effect of chance.

Lord Elmwood's carriage drove to his door just at the time her's did;
Mr. Sandford was with him, an