Miss Milner's pride began to be alarmed. While he was Mr. Dorriforth, and confined to a single life, his indifference to her charms was rather an honourable than a reproachful trait in his character, and in reality, she admired him for the insensibility. But on the eve of being at liberty, and on the eve of making his choice, she was offended that choice was not immediately fixed upon her. She had been accustomed to receive the devotion of every man who saw her, and not to obtain it of the man from whom, of all others, she most wished it, was cruelly humiliating. She complained to Miss Woodley, who advised her to have patience; but that was one of the virtues in which she was least practised.

Nevertheless, encouraged by her friend in the commendable desire of gaining the affections of him who possessed all her own, she left no means unattempted for the conquest;-but she began with too great a certainty of success, not to be sensible of the deepest mortification in the disappointment-nay, she now anticipated disappointment, as she had before anticipated success; by turns feeling the keenest emotions from hope and from despair.

As these passions alternately governed her, she was alternately in spirits or dejected; in good or in ill humour; and the vicissitudes of her prospect at length gave to her behaviour an air of caprice, which not all her follies had till now produced. This was not the way to secure the affections of Lord Elmwood; she knew it was not; and before him she was under some restriction. Sandford observed this, and, without reserve, added to the list of her other failings, hypocrisy. It was plain to see that Mr. Sandford esteemed her less and less every day; and as he was the person who most influenced the opinion of her guardian, he became to her, very soon, an object not merely of dislike, but of abhorrence.

These mutual sentiments were discoverable in

every word and action, while they were in each other's company; but still in his absence, Miss Milner's good nature, and total freedom from malice, never suffered her to utter a sentence injurious to his interest. Sandford's charity did not extend thus far; and speaking of her with severity one evening while she was at the opera, "His meaning," as he said, "but to caution her guardian against her faults," Lord Edward replied,

"There is one fault however, Mr. Sandford, I cannot lay to her charge."

"And what is that, my lord ?" cried Sandford eagerly, "What is that one fault which Miss Milner has not?"

"I never," replied Lord Elmwood, "heard Miss Milner, in your absence, utter a syllable to your disadvantage."

"She dares not, my lord, because she is in fear of you; and she knows you would not suffer it."

"She then," answered his lordship, "pays me a much higher compliment than you do ; for you freely censure her, and yet imagine I will suffer it."

"My lord," replied Sandford, "I am undeceived now, and shall never take that liberty again."

As Lord Elmwood always treated Sandford with the utmost respect, he began to fear he had been deficient upon this occasion; and the disposition which had induced him to take his ward's part was likely, in the end, to prove unfavourable to her; for perceiving that Sandford was offended at what had passed,- -as the only means of atonement, he began himself to lament her volatile and captious propensities; in which lamentation, Sandford, now forgetting his affront, joined with the heartiest concurrence, adding,

"You, sir, having at present other cares to employ your thoughts, ought to insist upon her marrying, or retiring wholly into the country."

She returned home just as this conversation was finished, and Sandford, the moment she entered, rang for his candle to retire. Miss Woodley, who had been at the opera with Miss Milner, cried,

"Bless me, Mr. Sandford, are you not well, you are going to leave us so early?" He replied, No, I have a pain in my

head."

Miss Milner, who never listened to complaints without sympathy, rose immediately from the chair she was just seated on, saying,

"I think I never heard you, Mr. Sandford, complain of indisposition before. Will you accept of my specific for the head-ache? Indeed it is a certain relief-I'll fetch it instantly."

She went hastily out of the room, and returned with a bottle, which, she assured him, "was a present from Lady Luneham, and would certainly cure him." And she pressed it upon him with such an anxious earnestness, that with all his

churlishness he could not refuse taking it. This was but a commonplace civility, such as is paid by one enemy to another every day; but the manner was the material part. The unaffected concern, the attention, the good will, she demonstrated in this little incident, was that which made it remarkable; and which immediately took from Lord Elmwood the displeasure to which he had been just before provoked, or rather transformed it into a degree of admiration. Even Sandford was not insensible to her kindness, and in return, when he left the room, "wished her a good night."

To her and Miss Woodley, who had not been witnesses of the preceding conversation, what she had done appeared of no merit; but to the mind of Lord Elmwood, the merit was infinite; and upon the departure of Sandford, he began to be unusually cheerful. He first pleasantly reproached the ladies for not offering him a place in their box at the opera. "Would you have gone, my lord?" asked Miss Milner, highly delighted. "Certainly," returned he, “had you invited

me."

"Then from this day I give you a general invitation; nor shall any other company be admitted but those whom you approve."

"I am very much obliged to you," said he. "And you," continued she, "who have been accustomed only to church-music, will be more than any one enchanted with hearing the softer music of love."

"What ravishing pleasures you are preparing for me!" returned he-"I know not whether my weak senses will be able to support them!"

She had her eyes upon him when he spoke this, and she discovered in his, that were fixed upon her, a sensibility unexpected-a kind of fascination which enticed her to look on, while her eye-lids fell involuntarily before its mighty force, and a thousand blushes crowded over her face. He was struck with these sudden signals; hastily recalled his former countenance, and stopped the conversation.

Miss Woodley, who had been a silent observer for some time, now thought a word or two from her would be acceptable rather than troublesome. "And pray, my lord," said she, " when do you go to France ?"

"To Italy you mean;-I shall not go at all," said he. "My superiors are very indulgent, for they dispense with all my duties. I ought, and I meant, to have gone abroad; but as a variety of concerns require my presence in England, every necessary ceremony has taken place here."

"Then your lordship is no longer in orders ?" said Miss Woodley.

"No; they have been resigned these five days."

My lord, I give you joy," said Miss Milner. He thanked her, but added with a sigh, "If I have given up content in search of joy, I shall perhaps be a loser by the venture." Soon afVOL. III.-10

ter this, he wished them a good night, and retired.

Happy as Miss Milner found herself in his company, she saw him leave the room with infinite satisfaction, because her heart was impatient to give a loose to its hopes on the bosom of Miss Woodley. She bade Mrs. Horton immediately good night; and, in her friend's apartment, gave way to all the language of passion, warmed with the confidence of meeting its return. She described the sentiments she had read in Lord Elmwood's looks; and though Miss Woodley had beheld them too, Miss Milner's fancy heightened the expression of every glance, till her construction became, by degrees, so extremely favourable to her own wishes, that had not her friend been likewise present, and known in what measure to estimate those symptoms, she must infallibly have thought, by the joy to which they gave birth, that he had openly avowed a passion for her.

Miss Woodley, of course, thought it her duty to allay these ecstasies, and represented to her, she might be deceived in her hopes ;-or even supposing his wishes inclined towards her, there were yet great obstacles between them. "Would not Sandford, who directed his every thought and purpose, be consulted upon this important one? and if he was, upon what, but the most romantic affection on the part of Lord Elmwood, had Miss Milner to depend! and his lordship was not a man to be suspected of submitting to the excess of any passion." Thus did Miss Woodley argue, lest her friend should be misled by her hopes; yet, in her own mind, she scarcely harboured a doubt that any thing would occur to thwart them. The succeeding circumstance proved she was mistaken.

Another gentleman of family and fortune made overtures to Miss Milner; and her guardian, so far from having his thoughts inclined towards her on his own account, pleaded this lover's cause even with more zeal than he had pleaded for Sir Edward and Lord Frederick; thus at once destroying all those plans of happiness which poor Miss Milner had formed.

In consequence, her melancholy disposition of mind was now predominant; she confined herself at home, and, by her own express order, was denied to all her visitors. Whether this arose from pure melancholy, or the still lingering hope of making her conquest, by that sedateness of manners which she knew her guardian admired, she herself perhaps did not perfectly know. Be that as it may, Lord Elmwood could not but observe this change, and one morning thought fit to mention, and to applaud it.

Miss Woodley and she were at work together when he came into the room; and after sitting several minutes, and talking upon indifferent subjects, to which his ward replied with a dejection in her voice and manner-he said,

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"Perhaps I am wrong, Miss Milner, but I have observed that you are lately more thoughtful than usual."

She blushed, as she always did when the subject was herself. He continued, "Your health appears perfectly restored, and yet I have observed you take no delight in your former amusements." "Are you sorry for that, my lord?"

"No, I am extremely glad; and I was going to congratulate you upon the change. But give me leave to inquire, to what fortunate accident we may attribute this alteration?"

"Your lordship then thinks all my commendable deeds arise from accident, and that I have no virtues of my own."

"Parden me, I think you have many." This he spoke emphatically; and her blushes increased.

He resumed-"How can I doubt of a lady's virtues, when her countenance gives me such evident proofs of them? Believe me, Miss Milner, that in the midst of your gayest follies, while you thus continue to blush, I shall reverence your internal sensations."

"Oh! my lord, did you know some of them, I am afraid you would think them unpardonable."

This was so much to the purpose, that Miss Woodley found herself alarmed-but without reason-Miss Milner loved too sincerely to reveal it to the object. He answered,

"And did you know some of mine, you might think them equally unpardonable."

She turned pale, and could no longer guide her needle in the fond transport of her heart she imagined that his love for her was among the sensations to which he alluded. She was too much embarrassed to reply, and he continued,

"We have all much to pardon in one another: and I know not whether the officious person who forces, even his good advice, is not as blameable as the obstinate one, who will not listen to it. And now, having made a preface to excuse you, should you once more refuse mine, I shall venture to give it."

"My lord, I have never yet refused to follow your advice, but where my own peace of mind was so nearly concerned as to have made me culpable, had I complied."

Well, madam, I submit to your past determinations; and shall never again oppose your inclination to remain single."

This sentence, as it excluded the design of soliciting for himself, gave her the utmost pain; and her eye glanced at him, full of reproach. He did not observe it, but went on.

"While you continue unmarried, it seems to have been your father's intention that you should continue under my immediate care ; but as I mean for the future to reside chiefly in the country-answer me candidly, do you think you could be happy there, for at least three parts of the year?"

After a short hesitation, she replied,-"I have no objection."

"I am glad to hear it," he returned eagerly, "for it is my sincere desire to have you with me; your welfare is dear to me as my own; and were we apart, continual apprehensions would prey upon my mind."

The tear started in her eye, at the earnestness that accompanied these words;-he saw it, and to soften her still more with the sense of his esteem for her, he increased his earnestness while he said,

"If you will take the resolution to quit London for the length of time I mention, there shall be no means omitted to make the country all you can wish I shall insist upon Miss Woodley's company for both our sakes; and it will not only be my study to form such a society as you may approve, but I am certain it will be likewise the study of Lady Elmwood

"

He was going on,-but as if a poniard had thrust her to the heart, she writhed under this un expected stroke.

He saw her countenance change-he looked at her steadfastly.

It was not a common change from joy to sorrow, from content to uneasiness, which Miss Milner discovered-she felt, and she expressed anguish--Lord Elmwood was alarmed and shocked. She did not weep, but she called Miss Woodley to come to her, with a voice that indicated a degree of agony.

"My lord," cried Miss Woodley, seeing his consternation, and trembling lest he should guess the secret, "my lord, Miss Milner has again deceived you-you must not take her from London -it is that, and that alone which is the cause of her uneasiness."

He seemed more amazed still--and still more shocked at her duplicity than at her torture. "Good heaven!" exclaimed he, "how am I to accomplish her wishes? What am I to do? How can I judge, if she will not confide in me, but thus for ever deceive me?"

She leaned, pale as death, on the shoulder of Miss Woodley, her eye fixed with apparent insensibility to all that was said, while he continued,

"Heaven is my witness, if I knew--If I could conceive the means how to make her happy, I would sacrifice my own happiness to hers."

"My lord," said Miss Woodley with a smile, "perhaps I may call upon you hereafter to fulfil your word."

He was totally ignorant what she meant, nor had he leisure, from the confusion of his thoughts, to reflect upon her meaning; he nevertheless replied, with warmth, "Do. You shall find I'll perform it."

Though Miss Milner was conscious this declaration could not, in delicacy, be ever adduced against him; yet the fervent and solemn manner

in which he made it, cheered her spirits; and as persons enjoy the reflection of having in their possession some valuable gem, though they are determined never to use it, so she upon this promise was comforted and grew better. She now lifted up her head, and leaned it on her hand, as she sat by the side of a table-still she did not speak, but seemed overcome with sorrow. As her situation became, however, less alarming, her guardian's pity and affright began to take the colour of resentment; and though he did not say so, he was, and looked, highly offended.

At this juncture Mr. Sandford entered. On beholding the present party, it required not his sagacity to see, at the first view, that they were all uneasy; but instead of the sympathy this might have excited in some dispositions, Mr. Sandford, after casting a look at each of them, appeared in high spirits.

"You seem unhappy, my lord," said he, with a smile.

"You do not-Mr. Sandford," Lord Elmwood replied.

"No, my lord, nor would I, were I in your situation. What should make a man of sense out of temper but a worthy object!" And he looked at Miss Milner.

"There are no objects unworthy our care:" replied Lord Elmwood.

"But there are objects on whom all care is fruitless, your lordship will allow."

"I never yet despaired of any one, Mr. Sandford."

"And yet there are persons, of whom it is presumption to entertain any hopes." And he looked again at Miss Milner.

"Does your head ache, Miss Milner?" asked her friend, seeing her hold it with her hand.

'Very much," returned she.

"Mr. Sandford," said Miss Woodley, "did you use all those drops Miss Milner gave you for a pain in the head?”

"Yes" answered he, "I did,"-But the question at that moment somewhat embarrassed him. "And I hope you found benefit from them:" said Miss Milner, with great kindness, as she rose from her seat, and walked slowly out of the room. Though Miss Woodley followed her, so that Mr. Sandford was left alone with Lord Elmwood, and might have continued his unkind insinuations without one restraint, yet his lips were closed for the present. He looked down on the carpettwitched himself upon his chair-and began to talk of the weather.

CHAPTER XXI.

WHEN the first transports of despair were past, Miss Milner suffered herself to be once more in hope. She found there were no other means to

support her life; and to her comfort, her friend was much less severe on the present occasion than she had expected. No engagement between mortals was, in Miss Woodley's opinion, binding like that entered into with heaven; and whatever vows Lord Elmwood had possibly made to another, she justly supposed that no woman's love for him equaled Miss Milner's-it was prior to all others; that established her claim, at least, to contend for success; and in a contention, what rival would not fall before her?

It was not difficult to guess who this rival was ; or if they were a little time in suspense, Miss Woodley soon arrived at the certainty, by inquiring of Mr. Sandford; who, unsuspecting why she asked, readily informed her that the intended Lady Elmwood was no other than Miss Fenton; and that the marriage would be solemnized as soon as the mourning for the late Lord Elmwood was over. This last intelligence made Miss Woodley shudder-she repeated it, however, to Miss Milner, word for word.

Happy happy woman!" exclaimed Miss Milner of Miss Fenton; "she has received the first fond impulse of his heart, and has had the transcendent happiness of teaching him to love!"

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"By no means," returned Miss Woodley, finding no other suggestion likely to comfort her; "do not suppose that his marriage is the result of loveit is no more than a duty, a necessary arrangement, and this you may plainly see by the wife on whom he has fixed. Miss Fenton was thought a proper match for his cousin, and that same propriety has transferred her to him."

It was easy to convince Miss Milner that all which her friend said was truth, for she wished it So. "And oh !" she exclaimed, "could I but stimulate passion, against the cold influence of propriety;-Do you think, my dear Miss Woodley," and she looked with such begging eyes, it was impossible not to answer as she wished, "do you think it would be unjust to Miss Fenton, were I to inspire her appointed husband with a passion which she may not have inspired, and which I believe she cannot feel?"

Miss Woodley paused a minute, and then answered, "No;"-but there was a hesitation in her manner of delivery-she did say, "No:" but she looked as if she was afraid she ought to have said "Yes." Miss Milner, however, did not give her time to recall the word, or to alter its meaning by adding others, but ran on eagerly, and declared, "As that was her opinion, she would abide by it, and do all she could to supplant her rival." In order, nevertheless, to justify this determination, and satisfy the conscience of Miss Woodley, they both concluded that Miss Fenton's heart was not engaged in the intended marriage, and consequently, she was indifferent whether it took place

or not.

Since the death of the late earl, she had not been in town; nor had the present earl been near the

place where she resided, since the week in which her lover died; of course nothing similar to love could have been declared at so early a period; and if it had been made known at a later, it must only have been by letter, or by the deputation of Mr. Sandford, who they knew had been once in the country to visit her; but how little he was qualified to enforce a tender passion was a comfortable reflection.

Revived by these conjectures, of which some were true, and others false; the very next day a gloom overspread their bright prospects, on Mr. Sandford's saying,as he entered the breakfast room, "Miss Fenton, ladies, desired me to present her compliments."

"Is she in town ?" asked Mrs. Horton.

"She came yesterday morning," returned Sandford, "and is at her brother's in Ormond Street; my lord and I supped there last night, and that made us so late home."

Lord Elmwood entered soon after, and bowing to his ward, confirmed what had been said, by telling her, that "Miss Fenton had charged him with her kindest respects."

"How does poor Miss Fenton look?" Mrs. Horton asked Lord Elmwood.

To which question Sandford replied, "Beautiful -she looks beautifully."

"She has got over her uncasiness, I suppose then?" said Mrs. Horton-not dreaming that she was asking the question before her new lover.

"Uneasy!" replied Sandford, " uneasy at any trial this world can send? That would be highly unworthy of her."

"But sometimes women do fret at such things:" replied Mrs. Horton, innocently.

Lord Elmwood asked Miss Milner--" if she meant to ride this delightful day?”

While she was hesitating

"There are different kinds of women," said Sandford, directing his discourse to Mrs. Horton; "there is as much difference between some women, as between good and evil spirits."

Lord Elmwood asked Miss Milner again-If she took an airing?

She replied, "No."

"And beauty," continued Sandford, "when endowed upon spirits that are evil, is a mark of their greater, their more extreme wickedness. Lucifer was the most beautiful of all the angels in Paradise"

"How do you know?" said Miss Milner.

"But the beauty of Lucifer," continued Sandford, in perfect neglect and contempt of her question, "was an aggravation of his guilt; because it showed a double share of ingratitude to the Divine Creator of that beauty."

"Now you talk of angels," said Miss Milner, "I wish I had wings; and I should like to fly through the park this morning."

"You would be taken for an angel in good earnest," said Lord Elmwood.

Sandford was angry at this little compliment, and cried, "I should think the serpent's skin would be much more characteristic."

"My lord," cried she, "does not Mr. Sandford use me ill !"-Vexed with other things, she felt herself extremely hurt at this, and made the appeal almost in tears.

"Indeed I think he does." And he looked at Sandford as if he was displeased.

This was a triumph so agreeable to her, that she immediately pardoned the offence; but the offender did not so easily pardon her.

"Good morning, ladies," said Lord Elmwood, rising to go away.

"My Lord," said Miss Woodley, "you promised Miss Milner to accompany her one evening to the opera; this is opera night."

"Will you go, my lord?" asked Miss Milner in a voice so soft, that he seemed as if he wished, but could not resist it.

"I am to dine at Mr. Fenton's to-day," he replied;" and if he and his sister will go, and you will allow them part of your box, I will promise to come."

This was a condition by no means acceptable to her; but as she felt a desire to see him in company with his intended bride (for she fancied she could perceive his secret sentiments, could she once see them together) she answered not ungraciously, "Yes, my compliments to Mr. and Miss Fenton, and I hope they will favour me with their company."

"Then, madam, if they come, you may expect me-else not." He bowed, and left the

room.

All the day was passed in anxious expectation by Miss Milner,what would be the event of the evening; for upon her penetration that evening all her future prospects she thought depended. If she saw by his looks, by his words, or assiduities, that he loved Miss Fenton, she flattered herself she would never think of him again with hope; but if she observed him treat her with inattention or indifference, she would cherish, from that moment, the fondest expectations. Against that short evening her toilet was consulted the whole day the alternate hope and fear which fluttered in her heart gave a more than usual brilliancy to her eyes, and more than usual bloom to her complexion. But vain was her beauty; vain all her care to decorate that beauty; vain her many looks to her box-door in hopes to see it openLord Elmwood never came.

The music was discord-every thing she saw was distasteful-in a word-she was miserable.

She longed impatiently for the curtain to drop, because she was uneasy where she was-yet she asked herself, "Shall I be less unhappy at home? Yes, at home I shall see Lord Elmwood, and that will be happiness. But he will behold me with neglect, and that will be misery!-Ungrate