ad never in his life
conferred before) with signs of the sincerest friendship and affection.
Sandford was present; and ever associating the idea of Matilda with Miss
Woodley, felt his heart bound with a triumph it had not enjoyed for many
a day.

Matilda listened with delight to the recital Miss Woodley gave on her
return, and many times while it lasted exclaimed, "She was happy." But
poor Matilda's sudden transports of joy, which she termed happiness,
were not made for long continuance; and if she ever found cause for
gladness, she far oftener had motives for grief.

As Mr. Sandford was sitting with her and Miss Woodley, one evening about
a week after, a person rang at the bell and inquired for him: on being
told of it by the servant, he went to the door of the apartment, and
cried, "Oh! is it you? Come in." An elderly man entered, who had been
for many years the head gardener at Elmwood House; a man of honesty and
sobriety, and with an indigent family of aged parents, children, and
other relations, who subsisted wholly on the income arising from his
place. The ladies, as well as Sandford, knew him well, and they all,
almost at once, asked, "What was the matter?" for his looks told them
something distressful had befallen him.

"Oh, Sir!" said he to Sandford, "I come to intreat your interest."

"In what, Edwards?" said Sandford with a mild voice; for when his
assistance was supplicated in distress, his rough tones always took a
plaintive key.

"My Lord has discharged me from his service!" (returned Edwards
trembling, and the tears starting in his eyes) "I am undone, Mr.
Sandford, unless you plead for me."

"I will," said Sandford, "I will."

"And yet I am almost afraid of your success," replied the man, "for my
Lord has ordered me out of his house this moment; and though I knelt
down to him to be heard, he had no pity."

Matilda sighed from the bottom of her heart, and yet she envied this
poor man, who had been kneeling to her father.

"What was your offence?" cried Sandford.

The man hesitated; then looking at Matilda, said, "I'll tell you, Sir,
some other time."

"Did you name me, before Lord Elmwood?" cried she eagerly, and
terrified.

"No, Madam," replied he, "but I unthinkingly spoke of my poor Lady who
is dead and gone."

Matilda burst into tears.

"How came you to do so mad a thing?" cried Sandford; and the
encouragement which his looks had once given him, now fled from his
face.

"It was un