ship to obey this command--she cannot lament the
separation from a parent whom she never knew--" Sandford was going
eagerly to prove the error of that assertion, but he prevented him,
saying, "In a word--without farther argument--if she obeys me in this, I
will provide for her as my daughter during my life, and leave her a
fortune at my death--but if she dares--"

Sandford interrupted the menace prepared for utterance, saying, "and you
still mean, I suppose, to make Mr. Rushbrook your heir?"

"Have you not heard me say so? And do you imagine I have changed my
determination? I am not given to alter my resolutions, Mr. Sandford; and
I thought you knew I was not; besides, will not my title be extinct,
whoever I make my heir? Could any thing but a son have preserved my
title?"

"Then it is yet possible----"

"By marrying again, you mean? No--no--I have had enough of marriage--and
Henry Rushbrook I shall leave my heir. Therefore, Sir----"

"My Lord, I do not presume--"

"Do not, Sandford, and we may still be good friends. But I am not to be
controlled as formerly; my temper is changed of late; changed to what
it was originally; till your religious precepts reformed it. You may
remember, how troublesome it was, to conquer my stubborn disposition in
my youth; _then_, indeed, you _did_; but in my more advanced age, you
will find the task too difficult."

Sandford again repeated, "He should not presume--"

To which Lord Elmwood again made answer, "Do not, Sandford;" and added,
"for I have a sincere regard for you, and should be loath, at these
years, to quarrel with you seriously."

Sandford turned away his head to conceal his feelings.

"Nay, if we do quarrel," resumed Lord Elmwood, "You know it must be your
own fault; and as this is a theme the most likely of any, nay, the only
one on which we can have a difference (such as we cannot forgive) take
care never from this day to resume it; indeed that of itself, would be
an offence I could not pardon. I have been clear and explicit in all I
have said; there can be no fear of mistaking my meaning; therefore, all
future explanation is unnecessary--nor will I permit a word, or a hint on
the subject from any one, without shewing my resentment even to the hour
of my death." He was going out of the room.

"But before we bid adieu to the subject for ever, my Lord--there was
another person whom I named to you--"

"Do you mean Miss Woodley? Oh, by all means let her live at El