G2 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



do love her, with my consent she shall never many any other 

 man." 



" Nay, nay, ray dear, kind friend, this you must not say ; for 

 if Blanche should prefer another to me, so far from preventing*, I 

 would do all in my power to promote her happiness in a union 

 with that man, even though that act should consign me, as it 

 doubtless would, to hopeless despair." 



" My dear boy," replied Mrs. Gordon, "where could Blanche 

 find one of truer nobility of mind than William Beauchamp?" 



" Many, perhaps, more worthy of her love,*." 



" IN ever," replied Mrs. Gordon, " were she to search through 

 the whole world." 



" Then, at any rate, I shall not be satisfied, till she Las had 

 the opportunity of trying whether such a person does exist or 

 not. And you must promise me, dear aunt, moreover, never to 

 reveal the disclosure I have made to you this morning, or you 

 Avill never see me at the Priory again." 



" That promise it is unnecessary for me to give, loving you 

 as I do, and you may safely confide your happiness and honour 

 to my keeping ; those, I promise you, shall not be compromised ; 

 but here comes Blanche — don't blush, or look foolish." 



"Where have you been wandering, dear aunt 1 ?" she in- 

 quired. " I have been looking for you in the flower garden, 

 and through all the walks, in vain." 



" Well, dear child, I am sorry to have occasioned you so 

 much trouble, but I took William to this point for a full view 

 of the lawn, before we commenced our work of cutting it into 

 beds ; but, bless me, how forgetful I am to-day ! — where is 

 Constance all this time 1 " 



" She will be here to luncheon," replied Beauchamp ; " but 

 having some letters to write, I rode over first." 



"Well, then, now to our business. -Go, dear Blanche, and. 

 bring that book of designs from the conservatory, and whilst I 

 call the gardener with his string and pegs to mark out, you and 

 William can look over the book, and choose what you like beat." 



" Yv^ell, aunt," said Beauchamp, " we will wait your return 

 in the conservatory, which is a more congenial atmosphere than 

 this on a November day." 



Blanche appeared at first rather indisposed to this arrange- 

 ment, fearing further disclosures from Beauchamp ; but they 

 were soon after busily engaged in comparing the various merits 

 of Catherine wheels, Gothic roses, Maltese crosses, and such like 

 devices. 



