ight, and every time sighed to herself, "I sleep in the same house
with my father! Blessed spirit of my mother, look down and rejoice."

CHAPTER VII.

The next day the whole Castle appeared to Lady Matilda (though she was
in some degree retired from it) all tumult and bustle, as was usually
the case while Lord Elmwood was there. She saw from her windows, the
servants running across the yards and park; horses and carriages driving
with fury; all the suite of a nobleman; and it sometimes elated, at
other times depressed her.

These impressions however, and others of fear and anxiety, which her
father's arrival had excited, by degrees wore off; and after some little
time, she was in the same tranquil state that she enjoyed before he
came.

He had visitors, who passed a week or two with him; he paid visits
himself for several days; and thus the time stole away, till it was
about four weeks from the time that he had arrived; in which long
period, Sandford, with all his penetration, could never clearly discover
whether he had once called to mind that his daughter was living in the
same house. He had not once named her (that was not extraordinary)
consequently no one dared name her to him; but he had not even mentioned
Miss Woodley, of whom he had so lately spoken in the kindest terms, and
had said, "He should take pleasure in seeing her again." From these
contradictions in Lord Elmwood's behaviour in respect to her, it was
Miss Woodley's plan neither to throw herself in his way, nor avoid him.
She therefore frequently walked about the house while he was in it, not
indeed entirely without restraint, but at least with the show of
liberty. This freedom, indulged for some time without peril, became at
last less cautious; and as no ill consequences had arisen from its
practice, her scruples gradually ceased.

One morning, however, as she was crossing the large hall, thoughtless of
danger, a footstep at a distance alarmed her almost without knowing why.
She stopped for a moment, thinking to return; the steps approached
quicker, and before she could retreat, she beheld Lord Elmwood at the
other end of the hall, and perceived that he saw her. It was too late to
hesitate what was to be done; she could not go back, and had not courage
to go on; she therefore stood still. Disconcerted, and much affected at
his sight, (their former intimacy coming to her mind with the many
years, and many sad occurrences passed, since she la