ly remembered his
friendship, his tenderness, and his love. She was impatient to see him,
and promised herself, for this last day, to neglect no one opportunity
of being with him. For that purpose she did not breakfast in her own
room, as she had done for several mornings before, but went into the
breakfast-room, where all the family in general met. She was rejoiced on
hearing his voice as she opened the door, yet the sound made her tremble
so much, that she could scarcely totter to the table.

Miss Woodley looked at her as she entered, and was never so shocked at
seeing her; for never had she yet seen her look so ill. As she
approached, she made an inclination of her head to Mrs. Horton, then to
her guardian, as was her custom, when she first saw them in a morning--he
looked in her face as he bowed in return, then fixed his eyes upon the
fire-place, rubbed his forehead, and began talking with Mr. Sandford.

Sandford, during breakfast, by accident cast a glance upon Miss Milner;
his attention was caught by her deadly countenance, and he looked
earnestly. He then turned to Lord Elmwood to see if he was observing her
appearance--he was not--and so much were her thoughts engaged on him
alone, that she did not once perceive Sandford gazing at her.

Mrs. Horton, after a little while observed, "It was a beautiful
morning."

Lord Elmwood said, "He thought he heard it rain in the night."

Sandford cried, "For his part he slept too well to know." And then
(unasked) held a plate with biscuits to Miss Milner--it was the first
civility he had ever in his life offered her; she smiled at the
whimsicality of the circumstance, but she took one in return for his
attention. He looked grave beyond his usual gravity, and yet not with
his usual ill temper. She did not eat what she had so politely taken,
but laid it down soon after.

Lord Elmwood was the first who rose from breakfast, and he did not
return to dinner.

At dinner, Mrs. Horton said, "She hoped he would, however, favour them
with his company at supper."

To which Sandford replied, "No doubt, for you will hardly any of you see
him in the morning; as we shall be off by six, or soon after."

Sandford was not going abroad with Lord Elmwood, but was to go with him
as far as Dover.

These words of his--"_Not see Lord Elmwood in the morning_"--[never again
to see him after this evening,] were like the knell of death to Miss
Milner. She felt the symptoms of fainting, and eag