86 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



world ? All had been over-ruled by the dread of her falling 

 into the trap set for her by Lord Mervyn and Vernon. His 

 love, long pent up within his own breast, was now suddenly 

 called forth by the horror of losing her for ever, and her being 

 wedded to such a fate as that designed by these unprincipled 

 plotters against her fortune and happiness. The heiress ceased 

 to be remembered as the heiress ; Beauchamp thought only of 

 that dear, pure-minded girl whose image had been so long 

 entwined about his heart. "She ought at least to know," 

 argued he, " that there is one who loves her dearer than his own 

 life, and would support her through every trial." And he 

 argued still more plausibly to himself that the confession of his 

 love could be no barrier to her selection of any other person 

 more congenial to her taste. This, of course, it would not have 

 been, had Blanche been free of herself to choose ; but, fortu- 

 nately or unfortunately, Beauchamp 5 s expression of love had 

 struck a respondent chord in her heart, which vibrated through 

 her whole frame. 



On the night of Sir Lionel Markham's dinner-party, Blanche 

 had experienced certain inexplicable sensations towards William 

 Beauchamp, which were redoubled on their meeting at the 

 Priory a few days after ; and she now felt, after carefully 

 analysing her feelings, that she loved him dearly, intensely — 

 and oh ! the delight of that night's revelation — that she was 

 beloved in return ! Blanche Douglas had received the blessing 

 of a sound religious education from a lady of good family, who 

 had resided many years with her pupil, and who faithfully dis- 

 charged her duty to her youthful charge by firmly impressing 

 on her mind those high principles of religion and morality, 

 which would prove her greatest comfort and protection during 

 the trials and temptations which she would most probably be 

 exposed to in after life. Mrs. Barratt loved Blanche as her own 

 daughter ; and bitter, indeed, was the parting between gover- 

 ness and pupil, when the kind-hearted woman left Throseby, a 

 few months previously, her services being no longer required 

 by Mrs. Harcourt. 



" Dear, kind Mrs. Barratt," exclaimed Blanche, sobbing and 

 crying at her departure, "you must promise to come and live 

 with me, when I am married, or become mistress of my own 

 property — indeed you must. I shall never be happy without 

 you." 



"My dear child," replied Mrs. Barratt, "you know little 

 now of the duties and trials of married life; your husband 



