t entered. "Send
Miss Milner's maid hither," said he, "immediately." The man withdrew.

"Nay, my Lord," cried Mrs. Horton, "any of the other servants could tell
you just as well, whether Miss Milner is at home, or gone out."

"Perhaps not," replied he.

The maid entered.

"Where is your mistress?" said Lord Elmwood.

The woman had received no orders to conceal where the ladies were gone,
and yet a secret influence which governs the thoughts of all
waiting-women and chambermaids, whispered to her that she ought not to
tell the truth.

"Where is your mistress?" repeated he, in a louder voice than before.

"Gone out, my Lord," she replied.

"Where?"

"My Lady did not tell me."

"And don't you know?"

"No, my Lord:" she answered, and without blushing.

"Is this the night of the masquerade?" said he.

"I don't know, my Lord, upon my word; but, I believe, my Lord, it is
not."

Sandford, as soon as Lord Elmwood had asked the last question, ran
hastily to the table, at the other side of the room, took something from
it, and returned to his place again--and when the maid said, "It was not
the night of the masquerade," he exclaimed, "But it is, my Lord, it
is--yes, it is," and shewing a newspaper in his hand, pointed to the
paragraph which contained the information.

"Leave the room," said Lord Elmwood to the woman, "I have done with
you." She withdrew.

"Yes, yes, here it is," repeated Sandford, with the paper in his
hand.----He then read the paragraph: "'_The masquerade at the honorable
Mrs. G----'s this evening_'--This evening, my Lord, you find--'_it is
expected will be the most brilliant, of any thing of the kind for these
many years past._'"

"They should not put such things in the papers," said Mrs. Horton, "to
tempt young women to their ruin." The word ruin grated upon Lord
Elmwood's ear, and he said to the servant who came to wait on him, while
he supped, "Take the supper away." He had not attempted either to eat,
or even to sit down; and he now walked backwards and forwards in the
room, lost in thought and care.

A little time after, one of Miss Milner's footmen came in upon some
occasion, and Mr. Sandford said to him, "Pray did you attend your lady
to the masquerade?"

"Yes, Sir," replied the man.

Lord Elmwood stopped himself short in his walk, and said to the servant,
"You did?"

"Yes, my Lord," replied he.

He walked again.

"I should like to know what she was dressed in," said Mrs.