e; but it was a gratification which her fears, her tremor, her
extreme sensibility would not permit her to enjoy.

Miss Woodley and she, sat down that day to dinner in their retired
apartments, which were detached from the other part of the house by a
gallery; and of the door leading to the gallery, they had a key to
impede any one from passing that way, without first ringing a bell; to
answer which, was the sole employment of a servant, who was placed there
during the Earl's residence, lest by any accident he might chance to
come near that unfrequented part of the house, on which occasion the man
was to give immediate notice to his Lady.

Matilda and Miss Woodley sat down to dinner, but did not dine. Sandford
dined as usual, with Lord Elmwood. When tea was brought, Miss Woodley
asked the servant, who attended, if he had seen his Lord. The man
answered, "Yes, Madam; and he looks vastly well." Matilda wept with joy
to hear it.

About nine in the evening, Sandford rang at the bell, and was
admitted--never had he been so welcome--Matilda hung upon him, as if his
recent interview with her father, had endeared him to her more than
ever; and staring anxiously in his face, seemed to enquire of him
something about Lord Elmwood, and something that should not alarm her.

"Well--how do you find yourself?" said he to her.

"How are you, Mr. Sandford?" she returned, with a sigh.

"Oh! very well," replied he.

"Is my Lord in a good temper?" asked Miss Woodley.

"Yes; very well," replied Sandford, with indifference.

"Did he seem glad to see you?" asked Matilda.

"He shook me by the hand," replied Sandford.

"That was a sign he was glad to see you, was it not?" said Matilda.

"Yes; but he could not do less."

"Nor more:" replied she.

"He looks very well, our servant tells us," said Miss Woodley.

"Extremely well indeed," answered Sandford: "and to tell the truth, I
never saw him in better spirits."

"That is well--" said Matilda, and sighed a weight of fears from her
heart.

"Where is he now, Mr. Sandford?"

"Gone to take a walk about his grounds, and I stole here in the mean
time."

"What was your conversation during dinner?" asked Miss Woodley.

"Horses, hay, farming, and politics."

"Won't you sup with him?"

"I shall see him again before I go to bed."

"And again to-morrow!" cried Matilda, "what happiness!"

"He has visitors to-morrow," said Sandford, "coming for a week or two."

"Thank Heaven," sa