by this supposition, Sandford said, "My Lord, won't you condescend to
take your leave of Miss Woodley?"

"Certainly, Sandford," replied he, and seemed glad of an excuse to sit
down again.

Impressed with the idea of the state in which she had left his only
child, Miss Woodley, when she came before Lord Elmwood to bid him
farewell, was pale, trembling, and in tears. Sandford, notwithstanding
his patron's apparently kind humour, was shocked at the construction he
must put upon her appearance, and cried, "What, Miss Woodley, are you
not recovered of your illness yet?" Lord Elmwood, however, took no
notice of her looks, but after wishing her her health, walked slowly out
of the house; turning back frequently and speaking to Sandford, or to
some other person who was behind him, as if part of his thoughts were
left behind, and he went with reluctance.

When he had quitted the room where Miss Woodley was, Rushbrook, timid
before her, as she had been before her benefactor, went up to her, all
humility, and said, "Miss Woodley, we ought to be friends: our concern,
our devotion is paid to the same objects, and one common interest should
teach us to be friendly."

She made no reply.--"Will you permit me to write to you when I am away?"
said he; "You may wish to hear of Lord Elmwood's health, and of what
changes may take place in his resolutions.--Will you permit me?" At that
moment a servant came and said, "Sir, my Lord is in the carriage, and
waiting for you." He hastened away, and Miss Woodley was relieved from
the pain of giving him a denial.

No sooner was the chaise, with all its attendants, out of sight, than
Lady Matilda was conducted by Miss Woodley from her lonely retreat, into
that part of the house from whence her father had just departed--and she
visited every spot where he had so long resided, with a pleasing
curiosity that for a while diverted her grief. In the breakfast and
dining rooms, she leaned over those seats with a kind of filial piety,
on which she was told he had been accustomed to sit. And, in the
library, she took up with filial delight, the pen with which he had been
writing; and looked with the most curious attention into those books
that were laid upon his reading desk. But a hat, lying on one of the
tables, gave her a sensation beyond any other she experienced on this
occasion--in that trifling article of his dress, she thought she saw
himself, and held it in her hand with pious reverence.

I