said?"

Rushbrook bowed.

"Contrary to my will?"

"No, my Lord, I wished to have your approbation."

"And you wished for my approbation of the very opposite thing to that I
proposed? But I am not surprised--such is the gratitude of the world--and
such is yours."

"My Lord, if you doubt my gratitude----"

"Give me a proof of it, Harry, and I will doubt no longer."

"Upon every other subject but this, my Lord, Heaven is my witness your
happiness----"

Lord Elmwood interrupted him. "I understand you--upon every other
subject, but the only one, my content requires, you are ready to obey
me. I thank you."

"My Lord, do not torture me with this suspicion; it is so contrary to my
deserts, that I cannot bear it."

"Suspicion of your ingratitude!--you judge too favourably of my
opinion--it amounts to certainty."

"Then to convince you, Sir, I am not ungrateful, tell me who the Lady is
you have chosen for me, and here I give you my word, I will sacrifice
all my future prospects of happiness--all, for which I would wish to
live--and become her husband as soon as you shall appoint."

This was spoken with a tone so expressive of despair, that Lord Elmwood
replied,

"And while you obey me, you take care to let me know, it will cost you
your future peace. This is, I suppose, to enhance the merit of the
obligation--but I shall not accept your acquiescence on these terms."

"Then in dispensing with it, I hope for your pardon."

"Do you suppose, Rushbrook, I can pardon an offence, the sole foundation
of which, arises from a spirit of disobedience?--for you have declared to
me your affections are disengaged. In our last conversation did you not
say so?"

"At first I did, my Lord--but you permitted me to consult my heart more
closely; and I have since found that I was mistaken."

"You then own you at first told me a falsehood, and yet have all this
time, kept me in suspense without confessing it."

"I waited, my Lord, till you should enquire----"

"You have then, Sir, waited too long;" and the fire flashed from his
eyes.

Rushbrook now found himself in that perilous state, that admitted of no
medium of resentment, but by such dastardly conduct on his part, as
would wound both his truth and courage; and thus, animated by his
danger, he was resolved to plunge boldly at once into the depth of his
patron's anger.

"My Lord," said he, (but he did not undertake this task without
sustaining the trembling and convulsio