odley; still, she could not but
reflect, the longer he was in coming to this determination, the more
irrevocable it would be, when once taken; and every moment that passed,
she trembled lest it should be the very moment, in which Lord Elmwood
should resolve to banish Miss Milner from his heart.

Amongst her unpardonable indiscretions, during this trial upon the
temper of her guardian, was the frequent mention of many gentlemen, who
had been her professed admirers, and the mention of them with
partiality. Teased, if not tortured, by this, Lord Elmwood still behaved
with a manly evenness of temper, and neither appeared provoked on the
subject, nor insolently careless. In a single instance, however, this
calmness was near deserting him.

Entering the drawing-room, one evening, he started, on seeing Lord
Frederick Lawnly there, in earnest conversation with Miss Milner.

Mrs. Horton and Miss Woodley were both indeed present, and Lord
Frederick was talking in an audible voice, upon some indifferent
subjects; but with that impressive manner, in which a man never fails to
speak to the woman he loves, be the subject what it may. The moment Lord
Elmwood started, which was the moment he entered, Lord Frederick arose.

"I beg your pardon, my Lord," said Lord Elmwood, "I protest I did not
know you."

"I ought to entreat your Lordship's pardon," returned Lord Frederick,
"for this intrusion, which an accident alone has occasioned. Miss Milner
has been almost overturned by the carelessness of a lady's coachman, in
whose carriage she was, and therefore suffered me to bring her home in
mine."

"I hope you are not hurt," said Lord Elmwood to Miss Milner, but his
voice was so much affected by what he felt that he could scarce
articulate the words. Not with the apprehension that she was hurt, was
he thus agitated, for the gaiety of her manners convinced him _that_
could not be the case, nor did he indeed suppose any accident, of the
kind mentioned, had occurred; but the circumstance of unexpectedly
seeing Lord Frederick had taken him off his guard, and being totally
unprepared, he could not conceal indications of the surprise, and of the
shock it had given him.

Lord Frederick, who had heard nothing of his intended union with his
ward, (for it was even kept a secret, at present, from every servant in
the house) imputed this discomposure to the personal resentment he might
bear him, in consequence of their duel; for though Lord Elmwo