e had judged
rightly, and yet unwilling to be too hard upon a passion, which he
readily believed must have had many noble virtues for its foundation,
now got up and went away, without saying a word in censure, though not a
word in approbation.

It was in the month of October, and just dark, at the time Rushbrook was
left alone, yet in the agitation of his mind, arising from the subject
on which he had been talking, he found it impossible to remain in the
house, and therefore walked into the fields; but there was another
instigation, more powerful than the necessity of walking--it was the
allurement of passing along that path where he had last seen Lady
Matilda, and where, for the only time, she had condescended to speak to
him divested of haughtiness; and with a gentleness that dwelt upon his
memory beyond all her other endowments.

Here, he retraced his own steps repeatedly, his whole imagination
engrossed with her idea, till the sound of her father's carriage
returning from his visit, roused him from the delusion of his trance, to
the dread of the confusion and embarrassment he should endure, on next
meeting him. He hoped Sandford might be present, and yet he was now,
almost as much ashamed of seeing him, as his uncle, whom he had so
lately offended.

Loath to leave the spot where he was, as to enter the house, he remained
there, till he considered it would be ill manners, in his present
humiliated situation, not to show himself at the usual supper hour,
which was immediately.

As he laid his hand upon the door of the apartment to open it, he was
sorry to hear by Lord Elmwood's voice, he was in the room before him;
for there was something much more conspicuously distressing, in entering
where he already was, than had his uncle come in after him. He found
himself, however, re-assured, by overhearing the Earl laugh and speak in
a tone expressive of the utmost good humour to Sandford, who was with
him.

Yet again, he felt all the awkwardness of his own situation; but making
one courageous effort, opened the door and entered. Lord Elmwood had
been away half the day, had dined abroad, and it was necessary to take
some notice of his return; Rushbrook, therefore, bowed humbly, and what
was more to his advantage, he looked humbly. His uncle made a slight
return to the salutation, but continued the recital he had begun to
Sandford; then sat down to the supper table--supped--and passed the whole
evening without saying a