ited her to dine with him and
Sandford whenever it was convenient to her; he said, besides, many
things of the same kind, and all with the utmost civility, yet not with
that warmth with which he had spoken in the morning--into _that_ he had
been surprised--his coolness was the effect of reflection.

When she came to Lady Matilda, and Sandford had joined them, they talked
and deliberated on what had passed.

"You acknowledge Mr. Sandford," said Miss Woodley, "that you think my
presence affected Lord Elmwood, so as to make him much more thoughtful
than usual; if you imagine these thoughts were upon Lady Elmwood, I
will never intrude again; but if you suppose that I made him think upon
his daughter, I cannot go too often."

"I don't see how he can divide those two objects in his mind," replied
Sandford, "therefore you must e'en visit him on, and take your chance,
what reflections you may cause--but, be they what they will, time will
steal away from you that power of affecting him."

She concurred in the opinion, and occasionally she walked into Lord
Elmwood's apartments, dined, or took her coffee with him, as the
accident suited; and observed, according to Sandford's prediction, that
time wore off the impression her visits first made. Lord Elmwood now
became just the same before her as before others. She easily discerned,
too, through all that politeness which he assumed--that he was no longer
the considerate, the forbearing character he formerly was; but haughty,
impatient, imperious, and more than ever, _implacable._

CHAPTER VIII.

When Lord Elmwood had been at his country seat about six weeks, Mr.
Rushbrook, his nephew, and his adopted child--that friendless boy whom
poor Lady Elmwood first introduced into his uncle's house, and by her
kindness preserved there--arrived from his travels, and was received by
his uncle with all the marks of affection due to the man he thought
worthy to be his heir. Rushbrook had been a beautiful boy, and was now
an extremely handsome young man; he had made unusual progress in his
studies, had completed the tour of Italy and Germany, and returned home
with the air and address of a perfect man of fashion--there was, besides,
an elegance and persuasion in his manner almost irresistible. Yet with
all those accomplishments, when he was introduced to Sandford, and put
forth his hand to take his, Sandford, with evident reluctance, gave it
to him; and when Lord Elmwood asked him, in