Lord Margrave, glad of an opportunity that might apologize for his
intrusion upon Lady Matilda, went with eagerness to her apartment, and
throwing himself at her feet, conjured her if she would save his life,
as well as her own, to submit to be consoled.

The extreme disgust and horror his presence inspired, caused Matilda for
a moment to forget all her want of power, her want of health, her
weakness; and rising from the place where she sat, she cried, with her
voice elevated,

"Leave me, my Lord, or I'll die in spite of all your care; I'll
instantly expire with grief, if you do not leave me."

Accustomed to the tears and reproaches of the sex--though not of those
like her--he treated with contempt these menaces of anger, and seizing
her hand, carried it to his lips.

Enraged, and overwhelmed with sorrow at the affront, she cried,
(forgetting every other friend she had,) "Oh! my dear Miss Woodley, why
are you not here to protect me?"

"Nay," returned Lord Margrave, stifling a fit of laughter, "I should
think the old Priest would be as good a champion as the lady."

The remembrance of Sandford, with all his kindness, now rushed so
forcibly on Matilda's mind, that she shed a shower of tears, on thinking
how much he felt, and would continue to feel, for her situation. Once
she thought on Rushbrook, and thought even _he_ would be sorry for her.
Of her father she did not think--she dared not--one single moment that
thought intruded, but she hurried it away--it was too bitter.

It was now again quite night; and near to that hour when she came first
to the house. Lord Margrave, though at some distance from her, remained
still in her apartment, while her female companion had stolen away. His
insensibility to her lamentations--the agitated looks he sometimes cast
upon her--her weak and defenceless state, all conspired to fill her mind
with horror.

He saw her apprehensions in her distracted face, disheveled hair, and
the whole of her forlorn appearance--yet, notwithstanding his former
resolutions, he could not resist the desire of fulfilling all her
dreadful expectations.

He once again approached her, and again was going to seize her hand;
when the report of a pistol, and a confused noise of persons assembling
towards the apartment prevented him.

He started--but looked more surprised than alarmed--her alarm was
augmented; for she supposed this tumult was some experiment to
intimidate her into submission. She wr