“He _does_ love her—but he has understanding and resolution. He loved his sister too, tenderly loved her, and yet when he had taken the resolution, and passed his word that he would never see her again—even upon her death-bed he would not retract it—no entreaties could prevail upon him. And now, though he maintains, and I dare say loves, her child, yet you remember, when you brought him home, that he would not suffer him in his sight.” “Poor Miss Milner!” said Miss Woodley, in the most pitying accents. “Nay,” said Sandford, “Lord Elmwood has not _yet_ passed his word, that he will never see her more—he has only threatened to do it; but I know enough of him to know, that his threats are generally the same as if they were executed.” “You are very good,” said Miss Woodley, “to acquaint me of this in time—I may now warn Miss Milner of it, and she may observe more circumspection.” “By no means,” cried Sandford, hastily—“What would you warn her for? It will do her no good—besides,” added he, “I don’t know whether Lord Elmwood does not expect secrecy on my part; and if he does——” “But, with all deference to your opinion,” said Miss Woodley, (and with all deference did she speak) “don’t you think, Mr. Sandford, that secrecy upon this occasion would be wicked? For consider the anguish that it may occasion to my friend; and if, by advising her, we can save her from——” She was going on.—— “You may call it wicked, Madam, not to inform her of what I have hinted at,” cried he; “but I call it a breach of confidence—if it _was_ divulged to me in confidence——” He was going to explain; but Miss Milner entered, and put an end to the discourse. She had been passing the whole morning at an auction, and had laid out near two hundred pounds in different things for which she had no one use, but bought them because they were said to be cheap—among the rest was a lot of books upon chemistry, and some Latin authors. “Why, Madam,” cried Sandford, looking over the catalogue where her purchases were marked by a pencil, “do you know what you have done? You can’t read a word of these books.” “Can’t I, Mr. Sandford? But I assure you that you will be very much pleased with them, when you see how elegantly they are bound.” “My dear,” said Mrs. Horton, “why have you bought china? You and my Lord Elmwood have more now, than you have places to put them in.” “Very true, Mrs. Horton—I forgot that—but then you know I can give these away.” Lord Elmwood was in the room at the conclusion of this conversation——he shook his head and sighed. “My Lord,” said she, “I have had a very agreeable morning; but I wished for you—if you had been with me, I should have bought a great many other things; but I did not like to appear unreasonable in your absence.” Sandford fixed his inquisitive eyes upon Lord Elmwood, to observe his countenance—he smiled, but appeared thoughtful. “And, oh! my Lord, I have bought you a present,” said she. “I do not wish for a present, Miss Milner.”