n the mean time, Lord Elmwood and Rushbrook were proceeding on the
road, with hearts not less heavy than those which they had left at
Elmwood House; though neither of them could so well define the cause of
this oppression, as Matilda could account for the weight which oppressed
her's.

CHAPTER XI.

Young as Lady Matilda was during the life of her mother, neither her
youth, nor the recluse state in which she lived, had precluded her from
the notice and solicitations of a nobleman who had professed himself her
lover. Viscount Margrave had an estate not far distant from the retreat
Lady Elmwood had chosen; and being devoted to the sports of the country,
he seldom quitted it for any of those joys which the town offered. He
was a young man, of a handsome person, and was, what his neighbours
called, "A man of spirit." He was an excellent fox-hunter, and as
excellent a companion over his bottle at the end of the chace--he was
prodigal of his fortune, where his pleasures were concerned, and as
those pleasures were chiefly social, his sporting companions and his
mistresses (for these were also of the plural number) partook largely of
his wealth.

Two months previous to Lady Elmwood's death, Miss Woodley and Lady
Matilda were taking their usual walk in some fields and lanes near to
their house, when chance threw Lord Margrave in their way during a
thunder storm in which they were suddenly caught; and he had the
satisfaction to convey his new acquaintances to their home in his coach,
safe from the fury of the elements. Grateful for the service he had
rendered them, Miss Woodley and her charge, permitted him to enquire
occasionally after their health, and would sometimes see him. The story
of Lady Elmwood was known to Lord Margrave, and as he beheld her
daughter with a passion such as he had been unused to overcome, he
indulged it with the probable hope, that on the death of the mother Lord
Elmwood would receive his child, and perhaps accept him as his
son-in-law. Wedlock was not the plan which Lord Margrave had ever
proposed to himself for happiness; but the excess of his love on this
new occasion, subdued all the resolutions he had formed against the
married state; and not daring to hope for the consummation of his wishes
by any other means, he suffered himself to look forward to that, as his
only resource. No sooner was the long expected death of Lady Elmwood
arrived, than he waited with impatience to hear that Lady M