34 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



said already for a social party like this ; but as holding the 

 high position to which you have alluded, and in which I have 

 been placed with the consent and approbation of the principal 

 landed proprietors of this county, Lord Mervyn must be aware 

 that something more than a verbal apology will be required for 

 the epithet he has been rash enough to apply to the members of 

 our hunt, whom I have the honour of so imperfectly repre- 

 senting." 



A dead silence pervaded the room, as Beauchamp delivered 

 this speech, without a muscle of his face moving from excite- 

 ment or anger ; and at its conclusion Sir Lionel Markham 

 observed, "You have well spoken, Beauchamp, and acted as 

 your friends always thought you would, with forbearance and 

 discretion ; and you will find those friends ever ready to 

 support you." 



" And in that number," said Tyler, " I beg to be included ; 

 for Beauchamp is justly entitled to the gratitude of every true 

 sportsman in this county, for his indefatigable exertions and 

 gentlemanly conduct in the field. ISTo one can regret more than 

 I do the unpleasant interruption to our conviviality this evening, 

 for which Mr. Beauchamp is in no way responsible ; and I trust 

 Lord Mervyn, now that the heat of the moment is over, will 

 frankly acknowledge, what I am sure he now feels, regret at 

 having used expressions so totally inapplicable to any gentleman 

 in this room, or any member of that hunt to which I have the 

 honour to belong." 



"Mr. Tyler," said Lord Mervyn, rising, "you have only 

 anticipated me in the expression of sentiments which are strictly 

 my own ; and I do most truly regret having in the heat of 

 passion so entirely forgotten myself. Sly most humble apologies 

 are justly due to every gentleman here present, and particularly 

 to our kind host, for the scene of contusion I have been the 

 cause of introducing at his hospitable board ; and the hasty and 

 unwarrantable expression which so inadvertently escaped my 

 iips will, I hope, be forgiven and forgotten." 



Satisfaction being expressed by ail at this happy termination 

 of such serious differences, Lord Mervyn, turning to Beauchamp, 

 requested he would name any day, the week after next, to meet 

 at Marston Castle, as he would put off his shooting party. 



"By no means, my lord," replied Beauchamp; " disappoint- 

 ment to your friends may be as great as to ours ; any day, 

 therefore, in the first week of December will suit us equally 

 well." 



