, no more was
asked; and the subject was dropped.

In the mean time, Rushbrook, happier than he had been for months,
intoxicated with joy at that voluntary mark of civility he had received
from Lady Matilda, felt his heart so joyous, and so free from every
particle of malice, that he resolved, in the humblest manner, to make
atonement for the violation of decorum he had lately committed against
Mr. Sandford.

Too happy, at this time, to suffer a mortification from any indignities
he might receive, he sent his servant to him into his study, as soon as
he was returned home, to beg to know "If he might be permitted to wait
upon him, with a message he had to deliver from Lord Elmwood."

The servant returned--"Mr. Sandford desired he would send the message by
him, or the house-steward." This was highly affronting; but Rushbrook
was not in a humour to be offended, and he sent again, begging he would
admit him; but the answer was, "He was busy."

Thus wholly defeated in his hopes of reconciliation, his new transports
felt an allay, and the few days that remained before Lord Elmwood came,
he passed in solitary musing, and ineffectual walks and looks towards
that path in which he had met Matilda--she came that way no more--indeed
scarce quitted her apartment, in the practice of that confinement she
was to experience on the arrival of her father.

All her former agitations now returned. On the day he arrived she
wept--all the night she did not sleep--and the name of Rushbrook again
became hateful to her. The Earl came in extremely good health and
spirits, but appeared concerned to find Rushbrook less well than when he
went from town. Sandford was now under the necessity of being in
Rushbrook's company, yet he would never speak to him but when he was
obliged; or look at him, but when he could not help it. Lord Elmwood
observed this conduct, yet he neither wondered, or was offended at it--he
had perceived what little esteem Sandford showed his nephew from his
first return; but he forgave, in Sandford's humour, a thousand faults he
would not forgive in any other; nor did he deem this one of his greatest
faults, knowing the demand upon his partiality from another object.

Miss Woodley waited on Lord Elmwood as formerly; dined with him, and
related, as heretofore, to the attentive Matilda, all that passed.

About this time Lord Margrave, deprived by the season of all the sports
of the field, felt his love for Matilda (which had