ing, answered, "Yes, my Lord;
and _all_ your commands in that respect have been obeyed."

He replied, "I am satisfied." And, to the grief of the old man, appeared
really so.

To the farm-house, the place of Matilda's residence, there came, besides
Sandford, another visitor far less welcome--Viscount Margrave. He had
heard with surprise, and still greater joy, that Lord Elmwood had once
more shut his doors against his daughter. In this her discarded state,
he no longer burthened his lively imagination with the dull thoughts of
marriage, but once more formed the idea of making her his mistress.

Ignorant of a certain decorum which attended all Lord Elmwood's actions,
he suspected that his child might be in want; and an acquaintance with
the worst part of her sex informed him, that relief from poverty was the
sure bargain for his success. With these hopes, he again paid Miss
Woodley and her a visit; but the coldness of the former, and the
haughtiness of the latter, still kept him at a distance, and again made
him fear to give one allusion to his purpose: but he returned home
resolved to write what he durst not speak--he did so--he offered his
services, his purse, his house--they were rejected with contempt, and a
stronger prohibition than ever given to his visits.

CHAPTER III.

Lord Elmwood had now allowed Rushbrook a long vacation, in respect to
his answer upon the subject of marriage; and the young man vainly
imagined, his intentions upon that subject were entirely given up. One
morning, however, as he was attending him in the library,

"Henry,"----said his uncle, with a pause at the beginning of his speech,
which indicated that he was going to say something of importance,
"Henry----you have not forgot the discourse I had with you a little time
previous to your illness?"

Henry hesitated--for he wished to have forgotten it--but it was too
strongly impressed upon his memory. Lord Elmwood resumed,

"What! equivocating again, Sir? Do you remember it, or do you not?"

"Yes, my Lord, I do."

"And are you prepared to give me an answer?"

Rushbrook paused again.

"In our former conversation," continued the Earl, "I gave you but a week
to determine--there has, I think, elapsed since that time, half a year."

"About as much, Sir."

"Then surely you have now made up your mind?"

"I had done that at first, my Lord--if it had met with your concurrence."

"You wished to lead a bachelor's life, I think you