All her former agitations now returned. On the day he arrived she wept--all the night she did not sleep--and the name of Rushbrook again became hateful to her. The Earl came in extremely good health and spirits, but appeared concerned to find Rushbrook less well than when he went from town. Sandford was now under the necessity of being in Rushbrook"s company, yet he would never speak to him but when he was obliged; or look at him, but when he could not help it. Lord Elmwood observed this conduct, yet he neither wondered, or was offended at it--he had perceived what little esteem Sandford showed his nephew from his first return; but he forgave, in Sandford"s humour, a thousand faults he would not forgive in any other; nor did he deem this one of his greatest faults, knowing the demand upon his partiality from another object.
Miss Woodley waited on Lord Elmwood as formerly; dined with him, and related, as heretofore, to the attentive Matilda, all that pa.s.sed.
About this time Lord Margrave, deprived by the season of all the sports of the field, felt his love for Matilda (which had been violent, even though divided with the love of hunting) now too strong to be subdued; and he resolved, though reluctantly, to apply to her father for his consent to their union; but writing to Sandford this resolution, he was once more repulsed, and charged as a man of honour, to forbear to disturb the tranquillity of the family by any application of the kind.
To this, Sandford received no answer; for the peer, highly incensed at his mistress"s repugnance to him, determined more firmly than ever to consult his own happiness alone; and as that depended merely upon his obtaining her, he cared not by what method it was effected.
About a fortnight after Lord Elmwood came into the country, as he was riding one morning, his horse fell with him, and crushed his leg in so unfortunate a manner, as to be at first p.r.o.nounced of dangerous consequence. He was brought home in a post chaise, and Matilda heard of the accident with more grief than would, perhaps, on such an occasion, appertain to the most fondled child.
In consequence of the pain he suffered, his fever was one night very high; and Sandford, who seldom quitted his apartment, went frequently to his bedside, every time with the secret hope he should hear him ask to see his daughter--he was every time disappointed--yet he saw him shake, with a cordial friendship, the hand of Rushbrook, as if he delighted in seeing those he loved.
The danger in which Lord Elmwood was supposed to be, was but of short duration, and his sudden recovery succeeded. Matilda, who had wept, moaned, and watched during the crisis of his illness, when she heard he was amending, exclaimed, (with a kind of surprise at the novelty of the sensation) "And this is joy that I feel! Oh! I never till now knew, what those persons felt who experienced joy."
Nor did she repine, like Mr. Sandford and Miss Woodley, at her father"s inattention to her during his malady, for she did not hope like them--she did not hope he would behold her, even in dying.
But notwithstanding his seeming indifference, while his indisposition continued, no sooner was he recovered so as to receive the congratulations of his friends, than there was no one person he evidently showed so much satisfaction at seeing, as Miss Woodley. She waited upon him timorously, and with more than ordinary distaste at his late conduct, when he put out his hand with the utmost warmth to receive her; drew her to him; saluted her, (an honour he had never in his life conferred before) with signs of the sincerest friendship and affection.
Sandford was present; and ever a.s.sociating the idea of Matilda with Miss Woodley, felt his heart bound with a triumph it had not enjoyed for many a day.
Matilda listened with delight to the recital Miss Woodley gave on her return, and many times while it lasted exclaimed, "She was happy." But poor Matilda"s sudden transports of joy, which she termed happiness, were not made for long continuance; and if she ever found cause for gladness, she far oftener had motives for grief.
As Mr. Sandford was sitting with her and Miss Woodley, one evening about a week after, a person rang at the bell and inquired for him: on being told of it by the servant, he went to the door of the apartment, and cried, "Oh! is it you? Come in." An elderly man entered, who had been for many years the head gardener at Elmwood House; a man of honesty and sobriety, and with an indigent family of aged parents, children, and other relations, who subsisted wholly on the income arising from his place. The ladies, as well as Sandford, knew him well, and they all, almost at once, asked, "What was the matter?" for his looks told them something distressful had befallen him.
"Oh, Sir!" said he to Sandford, "I come to intreat your interest."
"In what, Edwards?" said Sandford with a mild voice; for when his a.s.sistance was supplicated in distress, his rough tones always took a plaintive key.
"My Lord has discharged me from his service!" (returned Edwards trembling, and the tears starting in his eyes) "I am undone, Mr.
Sandford, unless you plead for me."
"I will," said Sandford, "I will."
"And yet I am almost afraid of your success," replied the man, "for my Lord has ordered me out of his house this moment; and though I knelt down to him to be heard, he had no pity."
Matilda sighed from the bottom of her heart, and yet she envied this poor man, who had been kneeling to her father.
"What was your offence?" cried Sandford.
The man hesitated; then looking at Matilda, said, "I"ll tell you, Sir, some other time."
"Did you name me, before Lord Elmwood?" cried she eagerly, and terrified.
"No, Madam," replied he, "but I unthinkingly spoke of my poor Lady who is dead and gone."
Matilda burst into tears.
"How came you to do so mad a thing?" cried Sandford; and the encouragement which his looks had once given him, now fled from his face.
"It was unthinkingly," repeated Edwards; "I was showing my Lord some plans for the new walks, and told him, among other things, that her Ladyship had many years ago approved of them. "Who?" cried he. Still I did not call to mind, but said, "Lady Elmwood, Sir, while you were abroad."--As soon as these words were delivered, I saw my doom in his looks, and he commanded me to quit his house and service that instant."
"I am afraid," said Sandford, shaking his head, "I can do nothing for you."
"Yes, Sir, you know you have more power over my Lord than any body--and perhaps you may be able to save me and all mine from misery."
"I would, if I could," replied Sandford quickly.
"You can but try, Sir."
Matilda was all this while bathed in tears; nor was Miss Woodley much less affected--Lady Elmwood was before their eyes--Matilda beheld her in her dying moments; Miss Woodley saw her as the gay ward of Dorriforth.
"Ask Mr. Rushbrook," said Sandford, "prevail on him to speak for you; he has more power than I have."
"He has not enough, then," replied Edwards, "for he was in the room with my Lord when what I have told you happened."
"And did he say nothing?" asked Sandford.
"Yes, Sir; he offered to speak in my behalf, but my Lord interrupted him, and ordered him out of the room--he instantly went."
Sandford, now observing the effect which this narration had on the two ladies, led the man to his own apartments, and there a.s.sured him he dared not undertake his cause; but that if time or chance should happily make an alteration in his Lord"s disposition, he would be the first who would endeavour to replace him.--Edwards was obliged to submit; and before the next day at noon, his pleasant house by the side of the park, his garden, and his orchard, which he had occupied above twenty years, were cleared of their old inhabitant, and all his wretched family.
CHAPTER XIV.
This melancholy incident, perhaps affected Matilda and all the friends of the deceased Lady Elmwood, beyond any other that had occurred since her death. A few days after this circ.u.mstance, Miss Woodley, in order to divert the disconsolate mind of Lady Matilda, (and in the hope of bringing her some little anecdotes, to console her for that which had given her so much pain) waited upon Lord Elmwood in his library, and borrowed some books out of it. He was now perfectly well from his fall, and received her with his usual politeness, but, of course, not with that peculiar warmth which he had discovered when he received her just after his illness. Rushbrook was in the library at the same time; he shewed her several beautiful prints which Lord Elmwood had just received from London, and appeared anxious to entertain and give tokens of his esteem and respect for her. But what gave her pleasure beyond any other attention, was, that after she had taken (by the aid of Rushbrook) about a dozen volumes from different shelves, and had laid them together, saying she would send her servant to fetch them; Lord Elmwood went eagerly to the place where they were, and taking up each book, examined minutely what it was. One author he complained was too light, another too depressing, and put them on the shelves again: another was erroneous, and he changed it for a better: thus, he warned her against some, and selected other authors, as the most cautious preceptor culls for his pupil, or a fond father for his darling Child. She thanked him for his attention to her, but her heart thanked him for his attention to his daughter. For as she had herself never received such a proof of his care since all their long acquaintance, she reasonably supposed, Matilda"s reading, and not hers, was the object of his solicitude.
Having in these books store of comfort for poor Matilda, she eagerly returned with them; and in reciting every particular circ.u.mstance, made her consider the volumes, almost like presents from her father.
The month of September was now arrived; and Lord Elmwood, accompanied by Rushbrook, went to a small shooting seat, near twenty miles distant from Elmwood Castle, for a week"s particular sport. Matilda was once more at large; and one beautiful morning, about eleven o"clock, seeing Miss Woodley walking on the lawn before the house, she hastily took her hat to join her; and not waiting to put it on, went nimbly down the great staircase, with it hanging on her arm. When she had descended a few stairs, she heard a footstep walking slowly up; and, (from what emotion she could not tell,) she stopped short, half resolved to turn back. She hesitated a single instant whether she should or not--then went a few steps further till she came to the second landing place; when, by the sudden winding of the staircase,--Lord Elmwood was immediately before her!
She had felt something like affright before she saw him; but her reason told her she had nothing to fear, as he was away. But now, the appearance of a stranger whom she had never before seen; the authority in his looks, as well as in the sound of his steps; a resemblance to the portrait she had been shown of him; a start of astonishment which he gave on beholding her; but above all--her _fears_ confirmed her that it was him. She gave a scream of terror--put out her trembling hands to catch the bal.u.s.trades for support--missed them--and fell motionless into her father"s arms.
He caught her, as by the same impulse, he would have caught any other person falling for want of aid. Yet when he found her in his arms, he still held her there--gazed on her attentively--and once pressed her to his bosom.
At length trying to escape the snare into which he had been led, he was going to leave her on the spot where she fell, when her eyes opened and she uttered, "Save me." Her voice unmanned him. His long-restrained tears now burst forth--and seeing her relapsing into the swoon, he cried out eagerly to recall her. Her name did not, however, come to his recollection--nor any name but this--"Miss Milner--Dear Miss Milner."
That sound did not awaken her; and now again he wished to leave her in this senseless state, that not remembering what had pa.s.sed, she might escape the punishment.
But at this instant, Giffard, with another servant, pa.s.sed by the foot of the stairs: on which, Lord Elmwood called to them--and into Giffard"s hands delivered his apparently dead child; without one command respecting her, or one word of any kind; while his face was agitated with shame, with pity, with anger, with paternal tenderness.
As Giffard stood trembling, while he relieved his Lord from this hapless burthen, her father had to unloose her hand from the side of his coat, which she had caught fast hold of as she fell, and grasped so closely, it was with difficulty released.--On attempting to take the hand away he trembled--faltered--then bade Giffard do it.
"Who, I, my Lord! I separate you!" cried he. But recollecting himself, "My Lord, I will obey your commands whatever they are." And seizing her hand, pulled it with violence--it fell--and her father went away.
Matilda was carried to her own apartments, laid upon the bed, and Miss Woodley hasted to attend her, after listening to the recital of what had pa.s.sed.
When Lady Elmwood"s old and affectionate friend entered the room, and saw her youthful charge lying pale and speechless, yet no father by to comfort or sooth her, she lifted up her hands to Heaven exclaiming, with a burst of tears, "And is this the end of thee, my poor child? Is this the end of all our hopes?--of thy own fearful hopes--and of thy mother"s supplications! Oh! Lord Elmwood! Lord Elmwood!"
At that name Matilda started, and cried, "Where is he? Is it a dream, or have I seen him?"