CHAPTER XII.
Sir Edward Ashton, though not invited by Miss Milner, yet frequently didhimself the honour to visit her at her house; sometimes he accompaniedLord Elmwood, at other times he came to see Dorriforth alone, whogenerally introduced him to the ladies. But Sir Edward was either sounwilling to give pain to the object of his love, or so intimidated byher frowns, that he seldom addressed her with a single word, except theusual compliments at entering, and retiring. This apprehension ofoffending, without one hope of pleasing, had the most awkward effectupon the manners of the worthy Baronet; and his endeavours to insinuatehimself into the affections of the woman he loved, merely by not givingher offence either in speaking to her or looking at her, formed acharacter so whimsical, that it frequently forced a smile from MissMilner, though his very name had often power to throw a gloom over herface: she looked upon him as the cause of her being hurried to theelection of a lover, before her own mind could well direct her where tofix. Besides, his pursuit was troublesome, while it was no triumph toher vanity, which by the addresses of Lord Frederick, was in the highestmanner gratified.
His Lordship now arrives in the country, and calls one morning at MissMilner's; her guardian sees his carriage coming up the avenue, and givesorders to the servants, to say their lady is not at home, but that Mr.Dorriforth is: Lord Frederick leaves his compliments and goes away.
The ladies all observed his carriage and servants. Miss Milner flew toher glass, adjusted her dress, and in her looks expressed every sign ofpalpitation--but in vain she keeps her eye fixed upon the door of theapartment; no Lord Frederick appears.
After some minutes of expectation, the door opens and her guardian comesin;--she was disappointed; he perceived that she was, and he looked ather with a most serious face;--she immediately called to mind theassurance he had given her, "That her acquaintance with Lord Frederickin its then improper state should not continue," and between chagrin andconfusion, she was at a loss how to behave.
Though the ladies were all present, Dorriforth said, without thesmallest reserve, "Perhaps, Miss Milner, you may think I have taken anunwarrantable liberty, in giving orders to your servants to deny you toLord Frederick; but until his Lordship and I have had a privateconference, or you condescend to declare your sentiments more fully inregard to his visits, I think it my duty to put an end to them."
"You will always perform your duty, Mr. Dorriforth, I have no doubt,whether I concur or not."
"Yet believe me, madam, I should perform it more cheerfully, if I couldhope that it was sanctioned by your inclinations."
"I am not mistress of my inclinations, Sir, or they should conform toyours."
"Place them under my direction, and I will answer for it they will."
A servant came in--"Lord Frederick is returned, Sir, and says he shouldbe glad to see you."
"Shew him into the study," cried Dorriforth hastily, and rising from hischair, left the room.
"I hope they won't quarrel," said Mrs. Horton, meaning, that she thoughtthey would.
"I am sorry to see you so uneasy, Miss Milner," said Miss Fenton, withperfect unconcern.
As the badness of the weather had prevented their usual morning'sexercise, the ladies were employed at their needles till the dinner bellcalled them away. "Do you think Lord Frederick is gone?" then whisperedMiss Milner to Miss Woodley.--"I think not," she replied.--"Go ask of theservants, dear creature." And Miss Woodley went out of the room. Shesoon returned and said, apart, "He is now getting into his chariot; Isaw him pass in violent haste through the hall; he seemed to fly."
"Ladies, the dinner is waiting," cried Mrs. Horton, and they repaired tothe dining room, where Dorriforth soon after came, and engrossed theirwhole attention by his disturbed looks, and unusual silence. Beforedinner was over, he was, however, more himself, but still he appearedthoughtful and dissatisfied. At the time of their evening walk heexcused himself from accompanying them, and they saw him in a distantfield with Mr. Sandford in earnest conversation; for Sandford and heoften stopped on one spot for a quarter of an hour, as if the interestof the subject had so engaged them, they stood still without knowing it.Lord Elmwood, who had joined the ladies, walked home with them;Dorriforth entered soon after, in a much less gloomy humour than when hewent out, and told his relation, that he and the ladies would dine withhim the next day if he was disengaged; and it was agreed they should.
Still Dorriforth was in some perturbation, but the immediate cause wasconcealed till the day following, when, about an hour before thecompany's departure from the Castle, Miss Milner and Miss Woodley weredesired, by a servant, to walk into a separate apartment, in which theyfound Mr. Dorriforth with Mr. Sandford waiting for them. Her guardianmade an apology to Miss Milner for the form, the ceremony, of which hewas going to make use; but he trusted, the extreme weight whichoppressed his mind, lest he should mistake the real sentiments of aperson whose happiness depended upon his correct knowledge of them,would plead his excuse.
"I know, Miss Milner," continued he, "the world in general allows tounmarried women great latitude in disguising their mind with respect tothe man they love. I too, am willing to pardon any little dissimulationthat is but consistent with a modesty that becomes every woman upon thesubject of marriage. But here, to what point I may limit, or you mayextend, this kind of venial deceit, may so widely differ, that it is notimpossible for me to remain unacquainted with your sentiments, evenafter you have revealed them to me. Under this consideration, I wishonce more to hear your thoughts in regard to matrimony, and to hear thembefore one of your own sex, that I may form an opinion by herconstructions."
To all this serious oration, Miss Milner made no other reply than byturning to Mr. Sandford, and asking, "If he was the person of her ownsex, to whose judgment her guardian was to submit his own?"
"Madam," cried Sandford angrily, "you are come hither upon seriousbusiness."
"Any business must be serious to me, Mr. Sandford, in which you areconcerned; and if you had called it _sorrowful_, the epithet would havesuited as well."
"Miss Milner," said her guardian, "I did not bring you here to contendwith Mr. Sandford."
"Then why, Sir, bring him hither? for where he and I are, there must becontention."
"I brought him hither, Madam, or I should rather say, brought you tothis house, merely that he might be present on this occasion, and withhis discernment relieve me from a suspicion, that my own judgment isneither able to suppress nor to confirm."
"Are there any more witnesses you may wish to call in, Sir, to removeyour doubts of my veracity? if there are, pray send for them before youbegin your interrogations."
He shook his head--she continued.
"The whole world is welcome to hear what I say, and every differentperson is welcome to judge me differently."
"Dear Miss Milner,"--cried Miss Woodley, with a tone of reproach for thevehemence with which she had spoken.
"Perhaps, Miss Milner," said Dorriforth, "you will not now reply tothose questions I was going to put?"
"Did I ever refuse, Sir," returned she with a self-approving air, "tocomply with any request that you have seriously made? Have I everrefused obedience to your commands whenever you thought proper to laythem upon me? If not, you have no right to suppose that I will do sonow."
He was going to reply, when Mr. Sandford sullenly interrupted him, andmaking towards the door, cried, "When you come to the point for whichyou brought me here, send for me again."
"Stay now," said Dorriforth. "And Miss Milner," continued he, "I notonly entreat, but command you to tell me--have you given your word, oryour affections to Lord Frederick Lawnly?"
The colour spread over her face, and she replied--"I thought confessionswere always to be in secret; however, as I am not a member of yourchurch, I submit to the persecution of a heretic, and I answer--LordFrederick has neither my word, nor any share in my affections."
Sandford, Dorriforth, and Miss Woodley looked at each other with adegree of surprise that for some
time kept them silent. At lengthDorriforth said, "And it is your firm intention never to become hiswife?"
To which she answered--"At present it is."
"At present! do you suspect you shall change your sentiments?"
"Women sometimes do."
"But before that change can take place, your acquaintance will be at anend: for it is that which I shall next insist upon, and to which you canhave no objection."
She replied, "I had rather it should continue."
"On what account?" cried Dorriforth.
"Because it entertains me."
"For shame, for shame!" returned he; "it endangers your character andyour happiness. Yet again, do not suffer me to interfere, if thebreaking with Lord Frederick can militate against your felicity."
"By no means," she answered; "Lord Frederick makes part of my amusement,but could never constitute my felicity."
"Miss Woodley," said Dorriforth, "do you comprehend your friend in thesame literal and unequivocal sense that I do?"
"Certainly I do, Sir."
"And pray, Miss Woodley," said he, "were those the sentiments which youhave always entertained?"
Miss Woodley hesitated--he continued. "Or has this conversation alteredthem?"
She hesitated again, then answered--"This conversation has alteredthem."
"And yet you confide in it!" cried Sandford, looking at her withcontempt.
"Certainly I do," replied Miss Woodley.
"Do not you then, Mr. Sandford?" asked Dorriforth.
"I would advise you to act as if I did," replied Sandford.
"Then, Miss Milner," said Dorriforth, "you see Lord Frederick nomore--and I hope I have your permission to apprize him of thisarrangement."
"You have, Sir," she replied with a completely unembarrassed countenanceand voice.
Her friend looked at her as if to discover some lurking wish, adverse toall these protestations, but she could not discern one. Sandford toofixed his penetrating eyes upon her, as if he would look through hersoul, but finding it perfectly composed, he cried out,
"Why then not write his dismission herself, and save you, Mr.Dorriforth, the trouble of any farther contest with him?"
"Indeed, Miss Milner," said Dorriforth, "that would oblige me; for it iswith great reluctance that I meet him upon this subject--he was extremelyimpatient and importunate when he was last with me--he took advantage ofmy ecclesiastical situation to treat me with a levity and ill breeding,that I could ill have suffered upon any other consideration than acompliance with my duty."
"Dictate what you please, Mr. Dorriforth, and I will write it," saidshe, with a warmth like the most unaffected inclination. "And while you,Sir," she continued, "are so indulgent as not to distress me with theimportunities of any gentleman to whom I am averse, I think myselfequally bound to rid you of the impertinence of every one to whom youmay have objection."
"But," answered he, "rest assured I have no material objection to myLord Frederick, except from that dilemma, in which your acquaintancewith him has involved us all; and I should conceive the same against anyother man, where the same circumstance occurred. As you have now,however, freely and politely consented to the manner in which it hasbeen proposed that you shall break with him, I will not trouble you amoment longer upon a subject on which I have so frequently explained mywishes, but conclude it by assuring you, that your ready acquiescencehas given me the sincerest satisfaction."
"I hope, Mr. Sandford," said she, turning to him with a smile, "I havegiven _you_ satisfaction likewise?"
Sandford could not say yes, and was ashamed to say no; he, therefore,made answer only by his looks, which were full of suspicion. She,notwithstanding, made him a very low courtesy. Her guardian then handedher out of the apartment into her coach, which was waiting to take her,Miss Woodley, and himself, home.