A servant came—he asked to “Speak with Miss Woodley, if she was quite alone.”
He was shown into an apartment, and Miss Woodley entered to him.
She started when she beheld who it was; but as he did not see a frown upon her face, he caught hold of her hand, and said persuasively,
“Do not be offended with me. If I mean to offend you, may I forfeit my life in atonement.”
Poor Miss Woodley, glad in her solitude to see any one from Elmwood House, forgot his visit was an offence, till he put her in mind of it; she then said, with some reserve,
“Tell me the purport of your coming, Sir, and perhaps I may have no reason to complain?”
“It was to see Lady Matilda,” he replied, “or to hear of her health. It was to offer her my services—it was, Miss Woodley, to convince her, if possible, of my esteem.”
“Had you no other method, Sir?” said Miss Woodley, with the same reserve.
“None;” replied he, “or with joy I should have embraced it; and if you can inform me of any other, tell me I beseech you instantly, and I will immediately be gone, and pursue your directions.”
Miss Woodley hesitated.