energy, “My Lord, unless you begin the subject, I never shall presume to mention it again."

"I take you at your word; and in consequence of that, but of that alone, we are friends. Good night, sir."

Sandford bowed with humility, and they went to their separate bedchambers.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

AFTER Lord Elmwood had retired into his chamber, it was some time before he read the letter Sandford had given him. He first walked backwards and forwards in the room; he then began to take off some part of his dress, but he did it slowly. At length he dismissed his valet, and sitting down, took the letter from his pocket. He looked at the seal, but not at the direction; for he seemed to dread seeing Lady Elmwood's hand-writing. He then laid it on the table, and began again to undress. He did not proceed, but, taking up the letter quickly (with a kind of effort in making the resolution), broke it open. These were its contents:

"My Lord,

"Who writes this letter I well know-I well know to whom it is addressed-I feel with the most powerful force both our situations; nor should I dare to offer you even this humble petition, but that, at the time you receive it, there will be no such person as I am in existence.

"For myself, then, all concern will be over; but there is a care that pursues me to the grave, and threatens my want of repose even there.

"I leave a child: I will not call her mine-that has undone her: I will not call her yours-that will be of no avail. I present her before you as the granddaughter of Mr. Milner. Oh! do not refuse an asylum, even in your own house, to the destitute offspring of your friend-the last and only remaining branch of his family.

"Receive her into your household, be her condition there ever so abject. I cannot write distinctly what I would—my senses are not impaired, but the powers of expression are. The complaint of the unfortunate child in the Scriptures (a lesson I have studied), has made this wish cling fast to my heart, that, without the distant hope of its being fulfilled, death would have more terrors than my weak mind could support.

"I will go to my father. How many servants live in my father's house, and are fed with plenty, while I starve in a foreign land!'

"I do not ask a parent's festive rejoicing at her approach-I do not even ask her father to behold her; but let her live under his protection. For her grandfather's sake do not refuse this— to the child of his child, whom he entrusted to your care—do not refuse it.

"Be her host; I remit the tie of being her parent. Never see her-but let her sometimes live under the same roof with you.

"It is Miss Milner, your ward, to whom you never refused a request, who supplicates you-not now for your nephew, Rushbrook, but for one so much more dear that a denial—she dares not suffer her thoughts to glance that way-she will hopeand in that hope bids you farewell, with all the love she ever bore you.

"Farewell, Dorriforth. Farewell, Lord Elmwood-and before you throw this letter from you with contempt or anger, cast your imagination into the grave where I am lying. Reflect upon all the days of my past life-the anxious moments. I have known, and what has been their end. Behold me, also: in my altered face there is no anxiety-no joy or sorrow—all is over. My whole frame is motionless—my heart beats no more. Look my horrid habitation, too,—and ask yourself, whether I am an object of resentment."

at

While Lord Elmwood read this letter, it trembled in his hand: he once or twice wiped the tears from his eyes as he read, and once laid the letter down for a few minutes. At its conclusion, the tears flowed fast down his face: but he seemed both ashamed and angry they did, and was going to throw the paper upon the fire. He, however, suddenly checked his hand; and, putting it hastily into his pocket, went to bed.

CHAPTER XXXIV. ·

THE next morning, when Lord Elmwood and Sandford met at breakfast, the latter was pale with fear for the success of Lady Elmwood's letter: the Earl was pale too, but there was besides upon his face something which evidently marked he was displeased. Sandford observed it, and was all humbleness, both in his words and looks, in order to soften him.

As soon as the breakfast was removed, Lord Elmwood drew the letter from his pocket, and holding it towards Sandford, said,

"That may be of more value to you than it is to me; therefore I give it you.'

Sandford called up a look of surprise, as if he did not know the letter again.

""Tis Lady Elmwood's letter," said Lord Elmwood, “and I return it to you for two reasons.'

Sandford took it, and, putting it up, asked fearfully, those two reasons were."

"what

like to

"First," said he, "because I think it is a relick you may preserve. My second reason is, that you may show it to her daughter, and let her know why, and on what conditions, I grant her mother's request."

"You do then grant it ?" cried Sandford, joyfully: "I thank you-you are kind-you are considerate."

"Be not hasty in your gratitude: you may have cause to recall it."

"I know what you have said,” replied Sandford: "you have said you grant Lady Elmwood's request-you cannot recall these words, nor I my gratitude."

"Do you know what her request is ?" returned he.

"Not exactly, my Lord: I told you before I did not; but it is, no doubt, something in favour of her child."

"I think not," he replied. "Such as it is, however, I grant

it; but in the strictest sense of the word—no farther-and one neglect of my commands releases me from this promise totally."

"We will take care, Sir, not to disobey them."

"Then listen to what they are; for to you I give the charge of delivering them again. Lady Elmwood has petitioned me, in the name of her father (a name I reverence), to give his grandchild the sanction of my protection ;—in the literal sense, to suffer that she may reside at one of my seats; dispensing, at the same time, with my ever seeing her."

"And you will comply?"

"I will, till she encroaches on this concession, and dares to hope for a greater;-I will, while she avoids my sight, or the giving me any remembrance of her. But if, whether by design or by accident, I ever see or hear from her, that moment my compliance to her mother's supplication ceases, and I abandon her once more."

Sandford sighed. Lord Elmwood continued,

"I am glad her request stopped where it did. I would rather comply with her desires than not; and I rejoice they are such as I can grant with ease and honour to myself. I am seldom now at Elmwood Castle: let her daughter go there. The few weeks or months I am down in the summer, she may easily, in that extensive house, avoid me: while she does, she lives in security-when she does not-you know my resolution."

Sandford bowed :-the Earl resumed,

"Nor can it be a hardship to obey this command: she cannot lament the separation from a parent whom she never knew

-" Sandford was going eagerly to prove the error of that assertion; but he prevented him, by saying, “In a word-without farther argument-if she obeys me in this, I will provide for her as my daughter during my life, and leave her a fortune at my death; but if she dares

Sandford interrupted the menace prepared for utterance, saying, "And you still mean, I suppose, to make Mr. Rushbrook your heir ?"

"Have you not heard me say so? And do you imagine I have changed my determination? I am not given to alter my resolutions, Mr. Sandford; and I thought you knew I was not: be

sides, will not my title be extinct, whoever I make my heir? Could any thing but a son have preserved my title ?"

"Then it is yet possible

"By marrying again, you mean ?-No-no-I have had enough of marriage; and Henry Rushbrook I shall leave my heir. Therefore, sir"

"My Lord, I do not presume--"

"Do not, Sandford, and we may still be good friends. But I am not to be controlled as formerly: my temper is changed of late-changed to what it was originally, till your religious precepts reformed it. You may remember how troublesome it was to conquer my stubborn disposition in my youth: then, indeed, you did; but in my more advanced age, you will find the task too difficult."

Sandford again repeated, "He should not presume

To which Lord Elmwood again made answer, "Do not, Sandford;" and added, "for I have a sincere regard for you, and should be loath, at these years, to quarrel with you seriously."

Sandford turned away his head, to conceal his feelings.

66

Nay, if we do quarrel,” resumed Lord Elmwood, "you know it must be your own fault; and as this is a theme the most likely of any, nay, the only one on which we can have a difference (such as we cannot forgive), take care never from this day to renew it. Indeed, that of itself would be an offence I could not pardon. I have been clear and explicit in all I have said; there can be no fear of mistaking my meaning; therefore, all future explanation is unnecessary: nor will I permit a word, or a hint on the subject from any one, without showing my resentment even to the hour my death." He was going out of the room-

of

"But before we bid adieu to the subject for ever, my Lord -there was another person whom I named to you——

"Do you mean Miss Woodley? Oh, by all means let her live at Elmwood House too. On consideration, I have no objection to see Miss Woodley at any time; I shall be glad to see her. Do not let her be frightened at me: to her I shall be the same that I have always been."

"She is a good woman, my Lord," cried Sandford, delighted. "You need not tell me that, Mr. Sandford: I know her worth." And he left the room.