see what he could not have pardoned. She
drew a chair and sat at the table by the side of her delighted friend.

After a few minutes' pause, and some little embarrassment on the part of
Mrs. Horton, at the disappointment she had to encounter from this
unexpected dutiful conduct, she asked Miss Milner, "if she would now
have any tea?" She replied, "No, I thank you, Ma'am," in a voice so
languid, compared with her usual one, that Dorriforth lifted up his eyes
from the book; and seeing her in the same dress that she had worn all
the day, turned them hastily away from her again--not with a look of
triumph, but of confusion.

Whatever he might have suffered if he had seen her decorated, and
prepared to bid defiance to his commands, yet even upon that trial, he
would not have endured half the painful sensations he now for a moment
felt--he felt himself to blame.

He feared that he had treated her with too much severity--he admired her
condescension, accused himself for having exacted it--he longed to ask
her pardon--he did not know how.

A cheerful reply from her, to a question of Miss Woodley's, embarrassed
him still more--he wished that she had been sullen, he then would have
had a temptation, or pretence, to have been sullen too.

With all these sentiments crowding fast upon his heart, he still read,
or seemed to read, as if he took no notice of what was passing; till a
servant came into the room and asked Miss Milner at what time she should
want the carriage? to which she replied, "I don't go out to-night."
Dorriforth then laid the book out of his hand, and by the time the
servant had left the room, thus began:

"Miss Milner, I give you, I fear, some unkind proofs of my regard. It is
often the ungrateful task of a friend to be troublesome--sometimes
unmannerly. Forgive the duties of my office, and believe that no one is
half so much concerned if it robs you of any degree of happiness, as I
myself am."

What he said, he looked with so much sincerity, that had she been
burning with rage at his late behaviour, she must have forgiven him,
for the regret which he so forcibly exprest. She was going to reply, but
found she could not, without accompanying her words with tears,
therefore, after the first attempt, she desisted.

On this he rose from his chair, and going to her, said, "Once more shew
your submission by obeying me a second time to-day. Keep your
appointment, and be assured that I shall issue my commands with