cousin, and that same propriety has
transferred her to him."

It was easy to convince Miss Milner that all 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 destined 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 to it, 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 that she was indifferent whether it ever 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 El