42 THE MASETES OF THE HOUNDS 



" Constance," exclaimed her brother in surprise, " what does 

 all this mean 1 " 



" Simply this, William ; I know the language of the eyes. 

 the looks of love ; and if the latter were not exhibited to 

 me this night by Blanche Douglas, when Markham spoke of 

 your quarrel with Lord Mervyn, I know nothing of woman- 

 kind." 



" Oh, say nob so, Constance." 



" It is said and done," she replied ; " the die is cast : the 

 happiness or misery of her you love now rests in your keeping 

 to whom she has intrusted, though not yet revealed, her life's 

 dearest treasure. ]STow, William, we are just at home ; and 

 remember, the conversation we have had this evening must 

 never escape your lips, even to our nearest and dearest 

 friends." 



" Of that there is little fear j honour and delicacy will keep 

 my lips hermetically sealed on this subject; but beware, my 

 dear Constance, you do not compromise your brother." 



" As soon, dear William, should I compromise myself." 



Mr. Beauchamp and Sir Francis had retired to rest before 

 the return of William and his sister, but Miss Raymond 

 awaited in the drawing-room, in the expectation of receiving a 

 true and particular account of that evening's proceedings. 



The appointment for the next morning having been adver- 

 tised for Barton Court, the seat of Sir Lionel Markham, the 

 worthy baronet threw open his doors to all comers, a substan- 

 tial breakfast being laid out for their discussion ; after which, 

 punctual to the time, half-past ten, Charley made his appear- 

 ance with the pack, which soon after trotted off to the home 

 wood, where an abundance of foxes was provided for their 

 entertainment. The multiplicity of these animals, however, 

 proved a bar to much sport, from their continual interference 

 with each other's business ; but after an hour's rattling work in 

 covert, one of these gentlemen of the brush thought to sneak 

 quietly away from the din ringing in his ears ; and, taking- 

 advantage of a hedge-row to screen him from observation, faced 

 the open. Charley's quick eye detected his foe slinking along, 

 until, jumping the fence two fields oft" he gave one hasty look 

 behind him, and then disappeared. "Ah, old fellow, you think 

 you've done the trick cleverly 1 just the ticket, namesake," he 

 was muttering to himself, when an old master of harriers came 

 up. 



" Well, Charley, just in my way this — round and round." 



