t till three in the morning," answered Mrs. Horton.

"Three! more likely six," cried Sandford.

"I can't wait with patience till that time," answered Lord Elmwood, with
a most anxious sigh.

"You had better go to bed, my Lord," said Mrs. Horton; "and, by
sleeping, the time will pass away unperceived."

"If I _could_ sleep, Madam."

"Will you play a game of cards, my Lord?" said Sandford, "for I will not
leave you till she comes home; and though I am not used to sit up all
night----"

"All night!" repeated Lord Elmwood; "she dares not stay all night."

"And yet, after going," said Sandford, "in defiance to your commands, I
should suppose she dared."

"She is in good company, at least, my Lord," said Mrs. Horton.

"She does not know herself what company she is in," replied he.

"How should she," cried Sandford, "where every one hides his face?"

Till five o'clock in the morning, in conversation such as this, the
hours passed away. Mrs. Horton, indeed, retired to her chamber at two,
and left the gentlemen to a more serious discourse; but a discourse
still less advantageous to poor Miss Milner.

She, during this time, was at the scene of pleasure she had painted to
herself, and all the pleasure it gave her was, that she was sure she
should never desire to go to a masquerade again. Its crowd and bustle
fatigued her--its freedom offended her delicacy--and though she perceived
that she was the first object of admiration in the place, yet there was
one person still wanting to admire; and the remorse at having
transgressed his injunctions for so trivial an entertainment, weighed
upon her spirits, and added to its weariness. She would have come away
sooner than she did, but she could not, with any degree of good manners,
leave the company with whom she went; and not till half after four, were
they prevailed on to return.

Daylight just peeped through the shutters of the room in which Lord
Elmwood and Sandford were sitting, when the sound of her carriage, and
the sudden stop it made at the door, caused Lord Elmwood to start from
his chair. He trembled extremely, and looked pale. Sandford was ashamed
to seem to notice it, yet he could not help asking him, "To take a glass
of wine." He took it--and for once, evinced he was reduced so low, as to
be _glad_ of such a resource.

What passion thus agitated Lord Elmwood at this crisis, it is hard to
define--perhaps it was indignation at Miss Milner's imprudence, and
exult