“No great trouble, Sir; for there are but two persons whom she has left behind her, to hope for your protection.”
“And who are those two?” cried he hastily.
“One, my Lord, I need not name—the other is Miss Woodley.”
There was a delicacy and humility in the manner in which Sandford delivered this reply, that Lord Elmwood could not resent, and he only returned,
“Miss Woodley—is she yet living?”
“She is—I left her at the house I came from.”
“Well then,” answered he, “you must see that my steward provides for those two persons. That care I leave to you—and should there be any complaints, on you they fall.”
Sandford bowed and was going.
“And now,” resumed Lord Elmwood, in a more stern voice, “let me never hear again on this subject. You have power to act in regard to the persons you have mentioned; and upon you their situation, the care, the whole management of them depends—but be sure you never let them be named before me, from this moment.”
“Then,” said Sandford, “as this must be the last time they are mentioned, I must now take the opportunity to disburden my mind of a charge”—