BEAUCHAMP's INTENTIONS TOWARDS THE HEIRESS. 61 



-Gordon, '* except that, among our young nobility, there are 

 many who would not be slow to woo any young heiress for 

 the sake of her money only. But supposing Blanche were no 

 heiress, after all, and dependent only on her aunt Gordon for 

 anything she might be able to leave her, would you, in that 

 case, make an avowal of your love ? " 



"Not even in that case, dear aunt Gordon, would I now 

 fetter her with an engagement to myself, which, in mixing 

 more with the world, she might afterwards seriously repent. In 

 my opinion, every young girl should have a fair allowance of 

 time and opportunities of selecting a husband from more general 

 society, before being encumbered by an early and perhaps im- 

 prudent attachment. We think some things very beautiful, 

 until we see others more beautiful." 



" Very true, William ; but we ought to love human beings, 

 not for their beauty of person, but their beauty of mind." 



"And yet a handsome person is, at first sight, a great 

 attraction both to men and women." 



" Well, then, your meaning is this, that my niece Blanche is 

 first to have her choice of all the handsome, gay young men, 

 (numbers of whom will, no doubt, be trying hard to carry off 

 the prize), and failing to find one of that number suited to her 

 requirements, she can fall back upon William Beauchamp as 

 a dernier ressort, who promises to hold himself disengaged the 

 while, and await patiently her royal decision." 



" Even so, dear aunt, for I am not likely to change." 



" Then you are one of the most romantic simpletons I have 

 ever had the honour of being acquainted with, William Beau- 

 champ. In fact, this is your weak point • but now listen to my 

 opinion. I have long known you as a high-spirited, generous- 

 hearted boy, and am foolish enough to love you as my own son. 

 Think yon, then, that I will permit your happiness to be risked 

 on such a hazard as this, in which my dear Blanche will be 

 equally compromised, if (as, I believe, is the case) she really 

 loves you as much as you do her ? No, William^ it shall not 

 be. Mr. Harcourt is not her only guardian ; I am one also, 

 and without our joint consent, she cannot marry, until of age. 

 He is worldly-minded and ambitious ; I am the reverse, and in 

 marriage, I know well, the only lasting happiness can arise from 

 true and devoted attachment, founded on esteem of character, 

 with fixed and firm principles of virtue and religion. You are 

 the only young man I have yet met with, to whom I could with 

 confidence intrust my dear Blanche ; and now that I know you 



