BLANCHE DOUGLAS, THE HEIRESS. 9 



' Forgive my rough mode, unaccustomed to sue, 

 I woo not, perhaps, as your so/6 dandies do ; 

 My voice has been tuned to the cry of the hounds. 

 When with shrill notes and screeches the coppice resounds.'' " 



"Well, Will Beauchamp — and yet I'll warrant that any 

 woman of sense would prefer an honest, plain-sailing, plain- 

 spoken fellow, like yourself, to all the dandies in Christendom." 



" No, no, Bob — women like and value all those little atten- 

 tions and soft whisperings, which Will Beauchamp has neither 

 the time nor the inclination to bestow ; for a false tongue, in 

 man or hound, is my abomination, and I will never condescend 

 to natter man, woman, or child." 



" And who 'ever thought you would, Mr. Will 1 none of 

 your Mends, I'll engage ; and least of all Bob Conyers : and 

 that's the reason I want you to tell Blanche Douglas that she 

 must not think of marrying either Markham or Vernon ; a 

 hint from you, Beauchamp, will be enough ; she will take your 

 advice • for, to my knowledge, your opinions are highly 

 regarded by the heiress." 



" There you are mistaken, Bob ; women in affairs of that 

 kind will run riot and have their own way ; and the more I 

 were to disparage Markham or Yernon, the more should I be 

 favouring their cause, and be looked upon as an impertinent 

 puppy into the bargain, for presuming to dictate to the young 

 lady in the choice of a husband." 



" Well, Beauchamp, perhaps you are right ; for young 

 ladies, like young fillies, are ticklish animals to handle, and will 

 bolt sometimes in the contrary direction you wish them to go. 

 It will not do, perhaps, for you to touch on this subject ; but as 

 I have dandled her on my knee when a child, she shall know a 

 bit of my mind at all events." 



" Only with one proviso. Bob — that you never allude to me 

 in any way, direct or indirect, or I will never forgive you." 



" Very well, Beauchamp ; that you are a confounded sensi- 

 tive fellow, I know full well ; but I know this also, which you 

 don't seem to know yourself, that you think deeply sometimes 

 of Blanche, and there is a peculiar expression about your eyes, 

 and hers also, when talking together, which has struck me more 

 than once." 



" Fancy, Bob, fancy ! only a rather wide stretch of your 

 discursive imagination ; but I am wedded already, and here 

 comes Charley with my family." 



" Ay, and as handsome a lot as ever the sun shone on ; so 



