be the immediate
consequence."

Thus she resolved, and thus she acted. The severest judge could not have
arraigned her conduct, from the day she received Lord Elmwood's letter,
to the day of his departure. She had, indeed, involuntary weaknesses,
but none with which she did not struggle, and, in general, her struggles
were victorious.

The first time she saw him after the receipt of his letter, was on the
evening of the same day--she had a little concert of amateurs of music,
and was herself singing and playing when he entered the room: the
connoisseurs immediately perceived she made a false cadence--but Lord
Elmwood was no connoisseur in the art, and he did not observe it.

They occasionally spoke to each other through the evening, but the
subjects were general--and though their manners every time they spoke,
were perfectly polite, they were not marked with the smallest degree of
familiarity. To describe his behaviour exactly, it was the same as his
letter, polite, friendly, composed, and resolved. Some of the company
staid supper, which prevented the embarrassment that must unavoidably
have arisen, had the family been by themselves.

The next morning each breakfasted in his separate apartments--more
company dined with them--in the evening, and at supper, Lord Elmwood was
from home.

Thus, all passed on as peaceably as he had requested, and Miss Milner
had not betrayed one particle of frailty; when, the third day at dinner,
some gentlemen of his acquaintance being at table, one of them said,

"And so, my Lord, you absolutely set off on Tuesday morning?"

This was Friday.

Sandford and he both replied at the same time, "Yes." And Sandford, but
not Lord Elmwood, looked at Miss Milner when he spoke. Her knife and
fork gave a sudden spring in her hand, but no other emotion witnessed
what she felt.

"Aye, Elmwood," cried another gentleman at table, "you'll bring home, I
am afraid, a foreign wife, and that I shan't forgive."

"It is his errand abroad, I make no doubt," said another visitor.

Before he could return an answer, Sandford cried, "And what objection to
a foreigner for a wife? do not crowned heads all marry foreigners? and
who happier in the married state than some kings?"

Lord Elmwood directed his eyes to the side of the table, opposite to
that where Miss Milner sat.

"Nay," (answered one of the guests, who was a country gentleman) "what
do you say, ladies--do you think my Lord ought to go out of