Miss Woodley took her at her word, and hurried her immediately out of the room.
Sandford followed slow behind, as if he had followed at her funeral.
When she came to that spot on the stairs where she had met her father, she started back, and scarce knew how to pa.s.s it. When she had--"There he held me in his arms," said she, "and I thought I felt him press me to his heart, but I now find I was mistaken."
As Sandford came forward, to hand her into the coach, "Now you behave well;" said he, "by this behaviour, you do not entirely close all prospect of reconciliation with your father."
"Do you think it is not yet impossible?" cried she, clasping his hand.
"Giffard says he loves me," continued she, "and do you think he might yet be brought to forgive me?"
"Forgive you!" cried Sandford.
"Suppose I was to write to him, and entreat his forgiveness?"
"Do not write yet," said Sandford, with no cheering accent.
The carriage drove off--and as it went, Matilda leaned her head from the window, to survey Elmwood House from the roof to the bottom. She cast her eyes upon the gardens too--upon the fish ponds--even the coach houses, and all the offices adjoining--which, as objects that she should never see again--she contemplated, as objects of importance.
CHAPTER II.
Rushbrook, who, at twenty miles distance, could have no conjecture what had pa.s.sed at Elmwood House, during the short visit Lord Elmwood made there, went that way with his dogs and gun in order to meet him on his return, and accompany him in the chaise back--he did so--and getting into the carriage, told him eagerly the sport he had had during the day; laughed at an accident that had befallen one of his dogs; and for some time did not perceive but that his uncle was perfectly attentive. At length, observing he answered more negligently than usual to what he said, Rushbrook turned his eyes quickly upon him, and cried,
"My Lord, are you not well?"
"Yes; perfectly well, I thank you, Rushbrook," and he leaned back against the carriage.
"I thought, Sir," returned Rushbrook, "you spoke languidly--I beg your pardon."
"I have the head-ache a little," answered he:--then taking off his hat, brushed the powder from it, and as he put it on again, fetched a most heavy sigh; which no sooner had escaped him, than, to drown its sound, he said briskly,
"And so you tell me you have had good sport to-day?"
"No, my Lord, I said but indifferent."
"True, so you did. Bid the man drive faster--it will be dark before we get home."
"You will shoot to-morrow, my Lord?"
"Certainly."
"How does Mr. Sandford do, Sir?"
"I did not see him."
"Not see Mr. Sandford, My Lord? but he was out I suppose--for they did not expect you at Elmwood House."
"No, they did not."
In such conversation Rushbrook and his uncle continued to the end of their journey. Dinner was then immediately served, and Lord Elmwood appeared much in his usual spirits; at least, not suspecting any cause for their abatement, Rushbrook did not observe any alteration.
Lord Elmwood went, however, earlier to bed than ordinary, or rather to his bed-chamber; for though he retired some time before his nephew, when Rushbrook pa.s.sed his chamber door it was open, and he not in bed, but sitting in a musing posture, as if he had forgot to shut it.
When Rushbrook"s valet came to attend his master, he said to him,
"I suppose, Sir, you do not know what has happened at the Castle?"
"For heaven"s sake what?" cried Rushbrook.
"My Lord has met Lady Matilda:" replied the man.
"How? Where? What"s the consequence?"
"We don"t know yet, Sir; but all the servants suppose her Ladyship will not be suffered to remain there any longer."
"They all suppose wrong," returned Rushbrook hastily--"My Lord loves her I am certain, and this event may be the happy means of his treating her as his child from this day."
The servant smiled and shook his head.
"Why, what more do you know?"
"Nothing more than I have told you, Sir; except that his Lordship took no kind of notice of her Ladyship that appeared like love."
Rushbrook was all uneasiness and anxiety to know the particulars of what had pa.s.sed; and now Lord Elmwood"s inquietude, which he had but slightly noticed before, came full to his observation. He was going to ask more questions; but he recollected Lady Matilda"s misfortunes were too sacred, to be talked of thus familiarly by the servants of the family;--besides, it was evident this man thought, and but naturally, it might not be for his master"s interest the father and the daughter should be united; and therefore would certainly give to all he said the opposite colouring.
In spite of his prudence, however, and his delicacy towards Matilda, Rushbrook could not let his valet leave him till he had inquired, and learned all the circ.u.mstantial account of what had happened; except, indeed, the order received by Giffard, which being given after Lord Elmwood was in his carriage and in concise terms, the domestics who attended him (and from whom this man had gained his intelligence) were unacquainted with it.
When the servant had left Rushbrook alone, the perturbation of his mind was so great, that he was, at length, undetermined whether to go to bed, or to rush into his uncle"s apartment, and at his feet beg for that compa.s.sion upon his daughter, which he feared he had denied her. But then, to what peril would he not expose himself by such a step? Nay, he might perhaps even injure her whom he wished to serve; for if his uncle was at present unresolved, whether to forgive or to resent this disobedience to his commands, another"s interference might enrage, and precipitate him on the latter.
This consideration was so weighty, it resigned Rushbrook to the suspense he was compelled to endure till the morning; when he flattered himself, that by watching every look and motion of Lord Elmwood, his penetration would be able to discover the state of his heart, and how he meant to act.
But the morning came, and he found all his prying curiosity was of no avail; Lord Elmwood did not drop one word, give one look, or use one action that was not customary.
On first seeing him, Rushbrook blushed at the secret with which he was entrusted; then, as he gazed on the Earl, contemplated the joy he ought to have known in clasping in his arms a child like Matilda, whose tenderness, reverence, and duty, had deprived her of all sensation at his sight; which was in Rushbrook"s mind an honour, that rendered him superior to what he was before.
They were in the fields all the day as usual; Lord Elmwood now cheerful, and complaining no more of the head-ache. Yet once being separated from his nephew, Rushbrook crossed over a stile into another field, and found him sitting by the side of a bank, his gun lying by him, and himself lost in thought. He rose on seeing him, and proceeded to the sport as before.
At dinner, he said he should not go to Elmwood House the next day, as he had appointed, but stay where he was, three or four days longer. From these two small occurrences, Rushbrook would fain have extracted something by which to judge the state of his mind; but upon the test, that was impossible--he had caught him so musing many a time before; and as to his prolonging his stay, that might arise from the sport--or, indeed, had any thing more material swayed him, who could penetrate whether it was the effect of the lenity, or the severity, he had dealt towards his child? whether his continuance there was to shun her, or to shun the house from whence he had banished her?
The three or four days for their temporary abode being pa.s.sed, they both returned together to Elmwood House. Rushbrook thought he saw his uncle"s countenance change as they entered the avenue, yet he did not appear less in spirits; and when Sandford joined them at dinner, the Earl went with his usual alacrity to him, and (as was his custom after any separation) put out his hand cheerfully to take his. Sandford said, "How do you do, my Lord?" cheerfully in return; but put both his hands into his bosom, and walked to the other side of the room. Lord Elmwood did not seem to observe this affront--nor was it done as an affront--it was merely what poor Sandford felt; and he felt he could _not_ shake hands with him.
Rushbrook soon learned the news that Matilda was gone, and Elmwood House was to him a desert--he saw there no real friend of her"s, except poor Sandford, and to him, Rushbrook knew himself now, more displeasing than ever; and all his overtures of atonement, he, at this time, found more and more ineffectual. Matilda was exiled; and her supposed triumphant rival was, to Sandford, more odious than he had ever been.
In alleviation of their banishment, Miss Woodley, with her charge, had not returned to their old retreat; but were gone to a farm house, not farther than thirty miles from Lord Elmwood"s: here Sandford, with little inconvenience, visited them; nor did his patron ever take notice of his occasional absence; for as he had before given his daughter, in some measure, to his charge; so honour, delicacy, and the common ties of duty, made him approve, rather than condemn his attention to her.
Though Sandford"s frequent visits soothed Matilda, they could not comfort her; for he had no consolation to bestow that was suited to her mind--her father had given no one token of regret for what he had done.