“Yes,” answered he, addressing himself to Miss Fenton, “your betrothed husband is a party concerned; he is going to be second to Mr. Dorriforth, who means this very evening to be killed by my Lord Frederick, or to kill him, in addition to the blow that he gave him last night.”
Mrs. Horton exclaimed, “if Mr. Dorriforth dies, he dies a martyr.”
Miss Woodley cried with fervour, “Heaven forbid!”
Miss Fenton cried, “dear me!”
While Miss Milner, without uttering one word, sunk speechless on the floor.
They lifted her up and brought her to the door which entered into the garden. She soon recovered; for the tumult of her mind would not suffer her to remain inactive, and she was rouzed, in spite of her weakness, to endeavour to ward off the impending disaster. In vain, however, she attempted to walk to her guardian’s apartment—she sunk as before, and was taken to a settee, while Miss Woodley was dispatched to bring him to her.
Informed of the cause of her indisposition, he followed Miss Woodley with a tender anxiety for her health, and with grief and confusion that he had so carelessly endangered it. On his entering the room Sandford beheld the inquietude of his mind, and cried, “Here is your Guardian,” with a cruel emphasis on the word.
He was too much engaged by the sufferings of his ward to reply to Sandford. He placed himself on the settee by her, and with the utmost tenderness, reverence, and pity, entreated her not to be concerned at an accident in which he, and he alone, had been to blame; but which he had no doubt would be accommodated in the most amicable manner.
“I have one favour to require of you, Mr. Dorriforth,” said she, “and that is, your promise, your solemn promise, which I know is ever sacred, that you will not meet my Lord Frederick.”
He hesitated.