30 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



what I want is, an ant eater, to devour those confounded old 

 relatives of mine.' " 



Blanche could not suppress a laugh at this anecdote, but 

 almost immediately after said, " My aunt, Mr. Vernon, is not of 

 that class, I am happy to say, but one of the kindest and most 

 indulgent relations I possess." 



" Happy to hear it, Miss Douglas ; there are exceptions to 

 every rule, and Mrs. Gordon is one to the usual run of aunts, I 

 conclude ; but all old people forget ' the merry days when they 

 were young.' By the way, I hope you will favour us with that 

 song in the evening 1 " 



" There are so many superior performers here to-night, that 

 I had rather be excused," she replied. 



" None who possess a sweeter voice than yourself," was the 

 courteous rejoinder; which Blanche only noticed by a slight 

 inclination of her head. 



Mrs. Gordon had seen enough to make her feel very un- 

 comfortable during the dinner hour, but prudently resolving to 

 keep her own deductions safely locked up in her own bosom, she 

 entered into conversation with her neighbour on general subjects, 

 to prevent any suspicion of her true thoughts being divined. 



On the ladies rising to leave the dinner table, she placed her 

 arm within her niece's, and sat down with her in the drawing- 

 room, rather apart from the other ladies, and, notwithstanding 

 her wise resolutions, could not forbear alluding to Yernon. 

 " You appeared greatly pleased with Mr. Yernon's lively sallies 

 and compliments, my dear 1 " 



" He is very entertaining," was the response. 



"And very impertinent also," replied Mrs. Gordon. " His 

 remarks about aunts, which I overheard, were particularly 

 facetious." 



" Indeed, my dear aunt, I was so annoyed by those remarks, 

 that I scarcely spoke to him afterwards." 



" You do quite right, my dear, in taking the part of those 

 who have your true interest at heart, and defending your nearest 

 (and I must say it) dearest relative, whom a flippant, pert cox- 

 comb tried to make appear ridiculous in your eyes. It is un- 

 necessary, I hope, my dearest child, for me to put you on your 

 guard against the advances of such frivolous, false-hearted men 

 as Mr. Yernon and Captain Markham, however entertaining or 

 prepossessing in manners. They are complete men of the world, 

 wicked, witty, and worthless ; and eagerly intent on marrying 

 some heiress, to squander her money away on their own selfish 



