should rather say, brought you to
this house, merely that he might be present on this occasion, and with
his discernment relieve me from a suspicion, that my own judgment is
neither able to suppress nor to confirm."

"Are there any more witnesses you may wish to call in, Sir, to remove
your doubts of my veracity? if there are, pray send for them before you
begin your interrogations."

He shook his head--she continued.

"The whole world is welcome to hear what I say, and every different
person is welcome to judge me differently."

"Dear Miss Milner,"--cried Miss Woodley, with a tone of reproach for the
vehemence with which she had spoken.

"Perhaps, Miss Milner," said Dorriforth, "you will not now reply to
those questions I was going to put?"

"Did I ever refuse, Sir," returned she with a self-approving air, "to
comply with any request that you have seriously made? Have I ever
refused obedience to your commands whenever you thought proper to lay
them upon me? If not, you have no right to suppose that I will do so
now."

He was going to reply, when Mr. Sandford sullenly interrupted him, and
making towards the door, cried, "When you come to the point for which
you brought me here, send for me again."

"Stay now," said Dorriforth. "And Miss Milner," continued he, "I not
only entreat, but command you to tell me--have you given your word, or
your affections to Lord Frederick Lawnly?"

The colour spread over her face, and she replied--"I thought confessions
were always to be in secret; however, as I am not a member of your
church, I submit to the persecution of a heretic, and I answer--Lord
Frederick has neither my word, nor any share in my affections."

Sandford, Dorriforth, and Miss Woodley looked at each other with a
degree of surprise that for some time kept them silent. At length
Dorriforth said, "And it is your firm intention never to become his
wife?"

To which she answered--"At present it is."

"At present! do you suspect you shall change your sentiments?"

"Women sometimes do."

"But before that change can take place, your acquaintance will be at an
end: for it is that which I shall next insist upon, and to which you can
have no objection."

She replied, "I had rather it should continue."

"On what account?" cried Dorriforth.

"Because it entertains me."

"For shame, for shame!" returned he; "it endangers your character and
your happiness. Yet again, do not suffer me to interfere, if the
break