AUNT GORDON SURPRISES THE TWO FRIENDS. 59 



" Yes," lie replied, mournfully ; " and are not her words 

 nearly confirmed, when Blanche's old friend William is ad- 

 dressed as Mr. Beauchamp 1 " 



" And yet," she said, timidly, though firmly, " Blanche 

 Douglas will, I hope, ever be Blanche Douglas to William 

 Beauchamp and his dear sister Constance." 



" Heaven grant it ! " he replied, iervently ; " unchanged in 

 heart, though I must not expect in name. Next month you 

 will make your debut in public, as the heiress ; and oh ! 

 Blanche, think you not of the homage (your just due) which 

 will then be offered at your feet by the rich, the titled, and the 

 gay, all eager for a share of those sunny smiles, by which the 

 heart of William Beauchamp has been so often gladdened, 

 when pressing the hand he now holds within his own. Fearful 

 to me, alas ! will be that change, whose coming I dread, as 

 about to separate us for ever." 



" Oh, never, William, believe me, can I so change towards 

 you, as to prefer new acquaintances, however agreeable, to old 

 and well-tried friends." 



A tap at the window made Beauchamp spring from the 

 sofa, and there stood Aunt Gordon ; but how long she had been 

 there, he did not then know. Blanche at the same moment 

 hurried from the room, to put on her bonnet ; and Beauchamp, 

 taking up his hat, hastened to meet Mrs. Gordon in the garden, 

 who, shaking hands with him most cordially, said, " So, William, 

 instead of coming to help Aunt Gordon in her garden, you have 

 been occupied in the drawing-room making love to her niece. 

 What have you to say, sir, to this grave charge ? guilty, or not 

 guilty ? " 



" Not sjuiltv. dear Aunt Gordon." 



" Then why that heightened colour and averted eye ? J 

 expected candour, not evasion, from William Beauchamp," she 

 replied, looking offended. 



" From you, my dear, kind friend," said Beauchamp, " I 

 have no concealments ; you have a double right to know what 

 I said to Blanche, and every word I have spoken to her shall 

 be repeated to you." He then related the conversation which 

 had passed between them, which had arisen from. Mrs. Har- 

 dcourt's observations to him the other night, and the melan- 

 choly reflections that had filled his mind ever since, that 

 Blanche Douglas would soon be "lost to him for ever. 



" So then, William, you do love my niece, notwithstanding 

 your plea of not guilty to making love just now?" 



