yet she herself could not tell why--but the reason was, that her
kind heart wanted a more ample field for its benevolence; and now her
thoughts were all pleasingly employed how she should render, not only
the lady herself, but even all her attendants, happy in their new
situation.

The reflections of Dorriforth were less agreeably engaged--Cares, doubts,
fears, possessed his mind--and so forcibly possessed it, that upon every
occasion which offered, he would inquisitively endeavour to gain
intelligence of his ward's disposition before he saw her; for he was, as
yet, a stranger not only to the real propensities of her mind, but even
to her person; a constant round of visits having prevented his meeting
her at her father's, the very few times he had been at his house, since
her final return from school. The first person whose opinion he, with
all proper reserve, asked concerning Miss Milner, was Lady Evans, the
widow of a Baronet, who frequently visited at Mrs. Horton's.

But that the reader may be interested in what Dorriforth says and does,
it is necessary to give some description of his person and manners. His
figure was tall and elegant, but his face, except a pair of dark bright
eyes, a set of white teeth, and a graceful fall in his clerical curls of
brown hair, had not one feature to excite admiration--yet such a gleam of
sensibility was diffused over each, that many people mistook his face
for handsome, and all were more or less attracted by it--in a word, the
charm, that is here meant to be described, is a _countenance_--on _his_
you read the feelings of his heart--saw all its inmost workings--the
quick pulses that beat with hope and fear, or the gentle ones that moved
in a more equal course of patience and resignation. On this countenance
his thoughts were pourtrayed; and as his mind was enriched with every
virtue that could make it valuable, so was his face adorned with every
expression of those virtues--and they not only gave a lustre to his
aspect, but added a harmonious sound to all he uttered; it was
persuasive, it was perfect eloquence; whilst in his looks you beheld his
thoughts moving with his lips, and ever coinciding with what he said.

With one of those interesting looks which revealed the anxiety of his
heart, and yet with that graceful restraint of all gesticulation, for
which he was remarkable, even in his most anxious concerns, he addressed
Lady Evans, who had called on Mrs. Horton to hear and to