?"

He named Miss Woodley first, to prolong the time before he mentioned
Matilda; for though to name her gave him extreme pleasure, yet it was a
pleasure accompanied by confusion and pain.

"They are both very well," replied Sandford, "at least they did not
complain they were sick."

"They are not in spirits, I suppose?" said Rushbrook.

"No, indeed:" replied Sandford, shaking his head.

"No new misfortune has happened, I hope?" cried Rushbrook; for it was
plain to see Sandford's spirits were unusually cast down.

"Nothing new," returned he, "except the insolence of a young nobleman."

"What nobleman?" cried Rushbrook.

"A lover of Lady Matilda's," replied Sandford.

Rushbrook was petrified. "Who? What lover, Mr. Sandford?--explain?"

They were now arrived at the house; and Sandford, without making any
reply to this question, said to the servant who took his horse, "She has
come a long way this morning; take care of her."

This interruption was torture to Rushbrook, who kept close to his side,
in order to obtain a further explanation; but Sandford, without
attending to him, walked negligently into the hall, and before they
advanced many steps, they were met by Lord Elmwood.

All further information was put an end to for the present.

"How do you do, Sandford?" said Lord Elmwood with extreme kindness; as
if he thanked him for the journey which, it was likely, he suspected he
had been taking.

"I am indifferently well, my Lord:" replied he, with a face of deep
concern, and a tear in his eye, partly in gratitude for his patron's
civility, and partly in reproach for his cruelty.

It was not now till the evening, that Rushbrook had an opportunity of
renewing the conversation, which had been so barbarously interrupted.

In the evening, no longer able to support the suspense into which he was
thrown; without fear or shame, he followed Sandford into his chamber at
the time of his retiring, and entreated of him, with all the anxiety he
suffered, to explain his allusion when he talked of a lover, and of
insolence to Lady Matilda.

Sandford, seeing his emotion, was angry with himself that he had
inadvertently mentioned the subject; and putting on an air of surly
importance, desired,--if he had any business with him, that he would call
in the morning.

Exasperated at so unexpected a reception, and at the pain of his
disappointment, Rushbrook replied, "He treated him cruelly, nor would he
stir out of his room,