In their retired apartments, this day pa.s.sed away not only soberly, but almost silently; for to speak upon any subject that did not engage their thoughts had been difficult, and to speak upon the only one that did, had been afflicting.
Just as they were sitting down to dinner their bell gently rung, and in walked Sandford.
"Why are you not among the revellers, Mr. Sandford?" cried Miss Woodley, with an ironical sneer--(the first her features ever wore)--"Pray, were not you invited to dine with the company?"
"Yes," replied Sandford; "but my head ached; and so I had rather come and take a bit with you."
Matilda, as if she had seen his heart as he spoke, clung round his neck and sobbed on his bosom: he put her peevishly away, crying "Nonsense, nonsense--eat your dinner." But he did not eat himself.
CHAPTER IX.
About a week after this, Lord Elmwood went out two days for a visit; consequently Rushbrook was for that time master of the house. The first morning he went a shooting, and returning about noon, enquired of Sandford, who was sitting in the room, if he had taken up a volume of plays left upon the table. "I read no such things," replied Sandford, and quitted the room abruptly. Rushbrook then rang for his servant, and desired him to look for the book, asking him angrily, "Who had been in the apartment? for he was sure he had left it there when he went out."
The servant withdrew to enquire, and presently returned with the volume in his hand, and "Miss Woodley"s compliments, she begs your pardon, Sir, she did not know the book was yours, and hopes you will excuse the liberty she took."
"Miss Woodley!" cried Rushbrook with surprise, "she comes so seldom into these apartments, I did not suppose it was her who had it--take it back to her instantly, with my respects, and I beg she will keep it."
The man went; but returned with the book again, and laying it on the table without speaking, was going away; when Rushbrook, hurt at receiving no second message, said, "I am afraid, Sir, you did very wrong when you first took this book from Miss Woodley."
"It was not from her I took it, Sir," replied the man, "it was from Lady Matilda."
Since he had entered the house, Rushbrook had never before heard the name of Lady Matilda, he was shocked--confounded more than ever--and to conceal what he felt, instantly ordered the man out of the room.
In the mean time, Miss Woodley and Matilda were talking over this trifling occurrence; and frivolous as it was, drew from it strong conclusions of Rushbrook"s insolence and power. In spite of her pride, the daughter of Lord Elmwood even wept at the insult she had received on this insignificant occasion; for the volume being merely taken from her at Mr. Rushbrook"s command, she felt an insult; and the manner in which it was done by the servant, might contribute to the offence.
While Miss Woodley and she were upon this conversation, a note came from Rushbrook to Miss Woodley, wherein he entreated he might be permitted to see her. She sent a verbal answer, "She was engaged." He sent again, begging she would name her own time. But sure of a second denial, he followed the servant who took the last message, and as Miss Woodley came out of her apartment into the gallery to speak to him, Rushbrook presented himself, and told the man to retire.
"Mr. Rushbrook," said Miss Woodley, "this intrusion is insupportable; and dest.i.tute as you may think me of the friendship of Lord Elmwood"----
In the ardour with which Rushbrook was waiting to express himself, he interrupted her, and caught hold of her hand.
She immediately s.n.a.t.c.hed it from him, and withdrew into her chamber.
He followed, saying, in a low voice, "Dear Miss Woodley, hear me."
At that juncture Lady Matilda, who was in an inner apartment, came out of it into Miss Woodley"s. Perceiving a gentleman, she stopped short at the door.
Rushbrook cast his eyes upon her, and stood motionless--his lips only moved. "Do not depart, Madam," said he, "without hearing my apology for being here."
Though Matilda had never seen him since her infancy, there was no occasion to tell her who it was that addressed her--his elegant and youthful person, joined to the incident which had just occurred, convinced her it was Rushbrook: she looked at him with an air of surprise, but with still more, of dignity.
"Miss Woodley is severe upon me, Madam," continued he, "she judges me unkindly; and I am afraid she will prepossess you with the same unfavourable sentiments."
Still Matilda did not speak, but looked at him with the same air of dignity.
"If, Lady Matilda," resumed he, "I have offended you, and must quit you without pardon, I am more unhappy than I should be with the loss of your father"s protection--more forlorn, than when an orphan boy, your mother first took pity on me."
At this last sentence, Matilda turned her eyes on Miss Woodley, and seemed in doubt what reply she was to give.
Rushbrook immediately fell upon his knees--"Oh! Lady Matilda," cried he, "if you knew the sensations of my heart, you would not treat me with this disdain."
"We can only judge of those sensations, Mr. Rushbrook," said Miss Woodley, "by the effect they have upon your conduct; and while you insult Lord and Lady Elmwood"s daughter by an intrusion like this, and then ridicule her abject state by mockeries like these----"
He rose from his knees instantly, and interrupted her, crying, "What can I do? What am I to say, to make you change your opinion of me? While Lord Elmwood has been at home, I have kept an awful distance; and though every moment I breathed was a wish to cast myself at his daughter"s feet, yet as I feared, Miss Woodley, that you were incensed against me, by what means was I to procure an interview but by stratagem or force?
This accident has given a third method, and I had not strength, I had not courage, to let it pa.s.s. Lord Elmwood will soon return, and we may both of us be hurried to town immediately--then how for a tedious winter could I endure the reflexion that I was despised, nay, perhaps considered as an object of ingrat.i.tude, by the only child of my deceased benefactress?"
Matilda replied with all her father"s haughtiness, "Depend upon it, Sir, if you should ever enter my thoughts, it will only be as an object of envy."
"Suffer me then, Madam," said he, "as an earnest that you do not think worse of me than I merit, suffer me to be sometimes admitted into your presence--."
She would scarce permit him to finish the period, before she replied, "This is the last time, Sir, we shall ever meet, depend upon it--unless, indeed, Lord Elmwood should delegate to you the controul of me--_his_ commands I never dispute." And here she burst into tears.
Rushbrook walked towards the window, and did not speak for some time--then turning himself to make a reply, both Matilda and Miss Woodley were somewhat surprised to see, that he had been shedding tears himself.--Having conquered them, he said, "I will not offend you, Madam, by remaining one moment longer; and I give you my honour, that, upon no pretence whatever, will I presume to intrude here again. Professions, I find, have no weight, and only by this obedience to your orders, can I give a proof of that respect which you inspire;--and let the agitation I now feel, convince you, Lady Matilda, that, with all my seeming good fortune, I am not happier than yourself." And so much was he agitated while he delivered this, that it was with difficulty he came to the conclusion. When he did, he bowed with reverence, as if leaving the presence of a deity, and retired.
Matilda immediately entered the chamber she had left, and without casting a single look at Miss Woodley by which she might guess of the opinion she had formed of Mr. Rushbrook"s conduct. The next time they met they did not even mention his name; for they were ashamed to own a partiality in his favour, and were too just to bring any accusation against him.
But Miss Woodley, the day following, communicated the intelligence of this visit to Mr. Sandford, who not being present, and a witness of those marks of humility and respect which were conspicuous in the deportment of Mr. Rushbrook, was highly offended at his presumption, and threatened if he ever dared to force his company there again, he would acquaint Lord Elmwood with his arrogance, whatever might be the event.
Miss Woodley, however, a.s.sured him, she believed he would have no cause for such a complaint, as the young man had made the most solemn promise never to commit the like offence; and she thought it her duty to enjoin Sandford, till he did repeat it, not to mention the circ.u.mstance, even to Rushbrook himself.
Matilda could not but feel a regard for her father"s heir, in return for that which he had so fervently declared for her; yet the more favourable her opinion of his mind and manners, the more he became an object of her jealousy for the affections of Lord Elmwood, and he was now consequently, an object of greater sorrow to her, than when she believed him less worthy. These sentiments were reversed on his part towards her--no jealousy intervened to bar his admiration and esteem--the beauty of her person, and grandeur of her mien, not only confirmed, but improved, the exalted idea he had formed of her previous to their meeting, and which his affection to both her parents had inspired. The next time he saw his benefactor, he began to feel a new esteem and regard for him, for his daughter"s sake; as he had at first an esteem for her, on the foundation of his love for Lord and Lady Elmwood. He gazed with wonder at his uncle"s insensibility to his own happiness, and would gladly have led him to the jewel he cast away, though even his own expulsion should be the fatal consequence. Such was the youthful, warm, generous, grateful, but unreflecting mind of Rushbrook.
CHAPTER X.
After this incident, Miss Woodley left her apartments less frequently than before--she was afraid, though till now mistrust had been a stranger to her heart, she was afraid that duplicity might be concealed under the apparent friendship of Rushbrook; it did not indeed appear so from any part of his behaviour, but she was apprehensive for the fate of Matilda; she disliked him too, and therefore she suspected him. Near three weeks she had not now paid a visit to Lord Elmwood, and though to herself every visit was a pain, yet as Matilda took a delight in hearing of her father, what he said, what he did, what his attention seemed most employed on, and a thousand other circ.u.mstantial informations, in which Sandford would scorn to be half so particular, it was a deprivation to her, that Miss Woodley did not go oftener. Now too, the middle of November was come, and it was expected her father would soon quit the country.
Partly therefore to indulge her hapless companion, and partly because it was a duty, Miss Woodley once again paid Lord Elmwood a morning visit, and staid dinner. Rushbrook was officiously polite, (for that was the epithet she gave his attention in relating it to Lady Matilda) yet she owned he had not that forward impertinence she had formerly discovered in him, but appeared much more grave and sedate.
"But tell me of my father," said Matilda.
"I was going, my dear--but don"t be concerned--don"t let it vex you."
"What? what?" cried Matilda, frightened by the preface.
"Why, on my observing that I thought Mr. Rushbrook looked paler than usual, and appeared not to be in perfect health, (which was really the case) your father expressed the greatest anxiety imaginable; he said he could not bear to see him look so ill, begged him, with all the tenderness of a parent, to take the advice of a physician, and added a thousand other affectionate things."
"I detest Mr. Rushbrook," said Matilda, with her eyes flashing indignation.
"Nay, for shame," returned Miss Woodley; "do you suppose I told you this, to make you hate him?"
"No, there was no occasion for that," replied Matilda; "my sentiments (though I have never before avowed them) were long ago formed; he was always an object which added to my unhappiness; but since his daring intrusion into my apartments, he has been an object of my hatred."