s laid it aside?"

His patience was now tempted to its height, and he answered, "If you
suspect me of inconsistency, Madam, you shall find me changed."

Pleased that she had been able at last to irritate him, she smiled with
a degree of triumph, and in that humour was going to reply; but before
she could speak four words, and before she thought of it, he abruptly
left the room.

She was highly offended at this insult, and declared, "From that moment
she banished him from her heart for ever." And to prove that she set his
love and his anger at equal defiance, she immediately ordered her
carriage, and said, she "Was going to some of her acquaintance, whom she
knew to have tickets, and with whom she would fix upon the habit she was
to appear in at the masquerade; for nothing, unless she was locked up,
should alter the resolution she had formed, of being there." To
remonstrate at that moment, Miss Woodley knew would be in vain--her coach
came to the door, and she drove away.

She did not return to dinner, nor till it was late in the evening; Lord
Elmwood was at home, but he never once mentioned her name.

She came home, after he had retired, in great spirits; and then, for the
first time, in her whole life, appeared careless what he might think of
her behaviour:--but her whole thoughts were occupied upon the business
which had employed the chief of her day; and her dress engrossed all her
conversation, as soon as Miss Woodley and she were alone. She told her,
she had been shewn the greatest variety of beautiful and becoming
dresses she had ever beheld; "and yet," said she, "I have at last fixed
upon a very plain one; but one I look so well in, that you will hardly
know me, when I have it on."

"You are seriously then resolved to go," said Miss Woodley, "if you hear
no more on the subject from your guardian?"

"Whether I do hear or not, Miss Woodley, I am equally resolved to go."

"But you know, my dear, he has desired you not--and you used always to
obey his commands."

"As my guardian, I certainly did obey him; and I could obey him as a
husband; but as a lover, I will not."

"Yet that is the way never to have him for a husband."

"As he pleases--for if he will not submit to be my lover, I will not
submit to be his wife--nor has he the affection that I require in a
husband."

Thus the old sentiments, repeated again and again, prevented a
separation till towards morning.

Miss Milner, for that night, dreamed