the young man's presence,
"If he did not think his nephew greatly improved?" He looked at him from
head to foot, and muttered "He could not say he observed it." The
colour heightened in Mr. Rushbrook's face upon the occasion, but he was
too well bred not to be in perfect good humour.

Sandford saw this young man treated, in the house of Lord Elmwood, with
the same respect and attention as if he had been his son; and it was but
probable the old priest would make a comparison between the situation of
him, and of Lady Matilda Elmwood. Before her, it was Sandford's meaning
to have concealed his thoughts upon the subject, and never to have
mentioned it but with composure; that was, however, impossible--unused to
hide his feelings, at the name of Rushbrook, his countenance would
always change, and a sarcastic sneer, sometimes a frown of resentment,
would force its way in spite of his resolution. Miss Woodley, too, with
all her boundless charity and good will, was, upon this occasion,
induced to limit their excess; and they did not extend so far as to
reach poor Rushbrook. She even, and in _reality_, did not think him
handsome or engaging in his manners--she thought his gaiety
frivolousness, his complaisance affectation, and his good humour
impertinence. It was impossible to conceal those unfavourable sentiments
entirely from Matilda; for when the subject arose, as it frequently did,
Miss Woodley's undisguised heart, and Sandford's undisguised
countenance, told them instantly. Matilda had the understanding to
imagine, that she was, perhaps, the object who had thus deformed Mr.
Rushbrook, and frequently (though he was a stranger to her, and one who
had caused her many a jealous heart-ache) frequently she would speak in
his vindication.

"You are very good," said Sandford, one day to her; "you like him,
because you know your father loves him."

This was a hard sentence for the daughter of Lord Elmwood to hear, to
whom her father's love would have been more precious than any other
blessing.--She, however, checked the assault of envy, and kindly replied,

"My mother loved him too, Mr. Sandford."

"Yes," answered Sandford, "he has been a _grateful_ man to your poor
mother.--She did not suppose when she took him into the house; when she
intreated your father to take him; and through her caresses and
officious praises of him, first gave him that power which he now
possesses over his uncle; she little foresaw, at that time, his