would keep me in utter
ignorance."

"I would."

"From a self-interested motive, Mr. Sandford--that I might have a greater
respect for you."

Some of the company laughed--Mrs. Horton coughed--Miss Woodley
blushed--Lord Elmwood sneered--Dorriforth frowned--and Miss Fenton looked
just as she did before.

The conversation was changed as soon as possible, and early in the
evening the party from Milner Lodge returned home.

Miss Milner had scarce left her dressing room, where she had been taking
off some part of her dress, when Dorriforth's servant came to acquaint
her that his master was alone in his study, and begged to speak with
her. She felt herself tremble--she immediately experienced a
consciousness that she had not acted properly at Lord Elmwood's; for she
felt a presentiment that her guardian was going to upbraid her, and her
heart whispered that he had never yet reproached her without a cause.

Miss Woodley just then entered her apartment, and she found herself so
much a coward, as to propose that she should go with her, and aid her
with a word or two occasionally in her excuse.

"What you, my dear," returned Miss Woodley, "who not three hours ago had
the courage to vindicate your own cause before a whole company, of whom
many were your adversaries; do _you_ want an advocate before your
guardian alone, who has ever treated you with tenderness?"

"It is that very tenderness which frightens me; which intimidates, and
strikes me dumb. Is it possible I can return impertinence to the
language and manners which Mr. Dorriforth uses? and as I am debarred
from that resource, what can I do but stand before him like a guilty
creature, acknowledging my faults."

She again entreated her friend to go with her; but on a positive
refusal, from the impropriety of such an intrusion, she was obliged at
length to go by herself.

How much does the difference of exterior circumstances influence not
only the manners, but even the persons of some people! Miss Milner in
Lord Elmwood's drawing room, surrounded by listeners, by admirers, (for
even her enemies could not look at her without admiration) animated with
approbation and applause--and Miss Milner, with no giddy observer to give
her actions a false eclat, destitute of all but her own understanding,
(which secretly condemns her) upon the point of receiving censure from
her guardian and friend, are two different beings. Though still
beautiful beyond description, she does no