o inform her of what I have hinted
at," cried he; "but I call it a breach of confidence--if it _was_
divulged to me in confidence----"

He was going to explain; but Miss Milner entered, and put an end to the
discourse. She had been passing the whole morning at an auction, and had
laid out near two hundred pounds in different things for which she had
no one use, but bought them because they were said to be cheap--among the
rest was a lot of books upon chemistry, and some Latin authors.

"Why, Madam," cried Sandford, looking over the catalogue where her
purchases were marked by a pencil, "do you know what you have done? You
can't read a word of these books."

"Can't I, Mr. Sandford? But I assure you that you will be very much
pleased with them, when you see how elegantly they are bound."

"My dear," said Mrs. Horton, "why have you bought china? You and my Lord
Elmwood have more now, than you have places to put them in."

"Very true, Mrs. Horton--I forgot that--but then you know I can give these
away."

Lord Elmwood was in the room at the conclusion of this conversation----he
shook his head and sighed.

"My Lord," said she, "I have had a very agreeable morning; but I wished
for you--if you had been with me, I should have bought a great many other
things; but I did not like to appear unreasonable in your absence."

Sandford fixed his inquisitive eyes upon Lord Elmwood, to observe his
countenance--he smiled, but appeared thoughtful.

"And, oh! my Lord, I have bought you a present," said she.

"I do not wish for a present, Miss Milner."

"What not from me? Very well."

"If you present me with yourself, it is all that I ask."

Sandford moved upon his chair, as if he sat uneasy.

"Why then, Miss Woodley," said Miss Milner, "_you_ shall have the
present. But then it won't suit you--it is for a gentleman. I'll keep it
and give it to my Lord Frederick the first time I meet with him. I saw
him this morning, and he looked divinely--I longed to speak to him."

Miss Woodley cast, by stealth, an eye of apprehension upon Lord
Elmwood's face, and trembled at seeing it flushed with resentment.

Sandford stared with both his eyes full upon him: then threw himself
upright on his chair, and took a pinch of snuff upon the strength of the
Earl's uneasiness.

A silence ensued.

After a short time--"You all appear melancholy," said Miss Milner: "I
wish I had not come home yet."

Miss Woodley was in agony--she saw Lord Elmw