Those involuntary sighs, however, that Miss Woodley had long ago observed, became still more frequent; and a tear half starting in her eye was an additional subject of her friend’s observation. Yet though Miss Milner at those times was softened into melancholy, she by no means appeared unhappy. Her friend was acquainted with love only by name; yet she was confirmed from these increased symptoms, in what she before only suspected, that _love_ must be the foundation of her care. “Her senses have been captivated by the person and accomplishments of Lord Frederick,” said Miss Woodley to herself, “but her understanding compels her to see his faults, and reproaches her passion.—And, oh!” cried she, “could her guardian and Mr. Sandford know of this conflict, how much would they have to admire; how little to condemn!” With such friendly thoughts, and with the purest intentions, Miss Woodley did not fail to give both gentlemen reason to believe, a contention of this nature was the actual state of Miss Milner’s mind. Dorriforth was affected at the description, and Sandford urged more than ever the necessity of leaving town. In a few days they departed; Mrs. Horton, Miss Woodley, Miss Milner, and Mr. Dorriforth, accompanied by Miss Fenton, whom Miss Milner, knowing it to be the wish of her guardian, invited, for three months before her marriage, to her country seat. Elmwood House, or rather Castle, the seat of Lord Elmwood, was only a few miles distant from this residence, and he was expected to pass great part of the summer there, with his tutor, Mr. Sandford. In the neighbourhood was also (as it has been already said) an estate belonging to an uncle of Lord Frederick’s, and most of the party suspected they should soon see him on a visit there. To that expectation they in great measure attributed Miss Milner’s visible content. CHAPTER XI. With this party Miss Milner arrived at her country house, and for near six weeks, all around was the picture of tranquillity; her satisfaction was as evident as every other person’s; and all severe admonition being at this time unnecessary, either to exhort her to her duty, or to warn her against her folly, she was even in perfect good humour with Miss Fenton, and added friendship to hospitality. Mr. Sandford, who came with Lord Elmwood to the neighbouring seat, about a week after the arrival of Miss Milner at her’s, was so scrupulously exact in the observance of his word, “_Never to enter a house of Miss Milner’s,_” that he would not even call upon his friend Dorriforth there—but in their walks, and at Lord Elmwood’s, the two parties would occasionally join, and of course Sandford and she at those times met—yet so distant was the reserve on either side, that not a single word upon any occasion was ever exchanged between them.