ved her from a
part of that burthen, which was before insupportable.

"Yes," replied Sandford, "and you are the mistress of it now, till your
father arrives."

"Good God!" exclaimed she, "and will he ever arrive? and shall I live to
sleep under the same roof with my father?"

"My dear," replied Miss Woodley, "have not you been told so?"

"Yes," said she, "but though I heard it with extreme pleasure, yet the
idea never so forcibly affected me as at this moment. I now feel, as the
reality approaches, that to be admitted here, is kindness enough--I do
not ask for more--I am now convinced, from what this trial makes me feel,
that to see my father, would occasion emotions I could not survive."

The next morning gave to Matilda, more objects of admiration and wonder,
as she walked over the extensive gardens, groves, and other pleasure
grounds belonging to the house. She, who had never been beyond the
dreary, ruinous places which her deceased mother had made her residence,
was naturally struck with amazement and delight at the grandeur of a
seat, which travellers came for miles to see, nor thought their time
mispent.

There was one object, however, among all she saw, which attracted her
attention above the rest, and she would stand for hours to look at it.
This was a whole length portrait of Lord Elmwood, esteemed a very
capital picture, and a perfect likeness--to this picture she would sigh
and weep; though when it was first pointed out to her, she shrunk back
with fear, and it was some time before she dared venture to cast her
eyes completely upon it. In the features of her father she was proud to
discern the exact mould in which her own appeared to have been modelled;
yet Matilda's person, shape, and complexion were so extremely like what
her mother's once were, that at the first glance she appeared to have a
still greater resemblance of her, than of her father--but her mind and
manners were all Lord Elmwood's; softened by the delicacy of her sex,
the extreme tenderness of her heart, and the melancholy of her
situation.

She was now in her seventeenth year--of the same age, within a year and a
few months, of her mother, when she became the ward of Dorriforth. She
was just three years old when her father went abroad, and remembered
something of bidding him farewell; but more of taking cherries from his
hand, as he pulled them from the tree to give to her.

Educated in the school of adversity, and inured to retiremen