t my sanction or
approval?"

"No, Sir," replied Miss Trevannion; "that I do respect and regard Mr
Elrington is true, and I cannot do otherwise for his many good qualities
and his devotion towards you; but if you would ask me if I love him, I
reply that such a thought has not yet entered my head. Without a
knowledge of who he is, or his family, and without your approval, I
should never think of yielding up my affections in so hasty a manner;
but I may say more: these affections have never been solicited by Mr
Elrington. He has always behaved towards me with that respect, which,
as the daughter of his patron, I have had a right to expect; but in no
instance has he ever signified to me that he had any preference in my
favour. Having assured you of this, my dear father, I cannot but say
that I consider that he has, in this instance, not only been treated
with injustice by you, but also by me."

"Say no more," replied Mr Trevannion. As he said this, I heard
footsteps in the passage, and was about to retreat to my own room; but,
as the party came without a light, I remained. It was the porter, who
knocked at the sitting-room door, and was requested to come in by Mr
Trevannion.

"If you please, Sir, Mr Elrington is gone out, I believe, and I found
this packet directed to you on the table of the inner room, and also
this bag of money, which I suppose you forgot to put away before you
left."

"Very well, Humphrey, leave them on the table."

The man did so, and quitted the room, not perceiving me in the dark as
he passed through the ante-room.

"He has not taken the money," observed Mr Trevannion. "He might have
done so, as he ought to be paid for his services."

"I presume, my dear father, that his feelings were too much hurt by what
passed," said Miss Trevannion. "There are obligations which cannot be
repaid with gold."

"These, I perceive, are the keys of the safe; I did not think that he
would have gone away this night."

I now considered it high time to quit the ante-room, where I had been
irresistibly detained by the conversation which took place. I hastened
to my own chamber, determined that I would leave the house the next
morning before any one was stirring. I gained it in the dark, but,
having the means of striking a light, I did so, and packed up all my
clothes ready for my departure. I had just fastened down my valise,
when I perceived a light on the further end of the long corridor which
led to