88 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



and now farewell, my own long-loved, dearest child, and may 

 Heaven protect you from every evil, and that greatest of all 

 evils, a bad husband." when, straining her to her breast once 

 more, Mrs. Barratt rushed from the room, and poor Blanche 

 sank helpless in her chair, convulsed with sobs and sorrow, 

 where she sat crying until her maid Alice entered, and exerted 

 all her entreaties and kind offices to soothe and comfort her 

 almost broken-hearted young lady. 



" Oh, my dear mistress," cried Alice, kneeling at her feet, 

 " pray do not give way thus " (at the same time wiping with 

 her apron the tears trickling down her own cheeks). " Poor, 

 dear, kind Mrs. Barratt, we shall all miss her so," and she 

 began sobbing herself as if her heart would break. " Oh, Miss 

 Blanche, this will be a sad day — but there, I declare, is Mrs. 

 Harcourt's step coming this way," which roused the two young 

 girls to check their emotions. 



" Why, Blanche," exclaimed Mrs. Harcourt, witnessing the 

 traces of her grief, " I thought you possessed too high a sense 

 of decorum to give way to such sobs and lamentations, and in 

 the presence of your servant ; indeed, you ought to rejoice at 

 Mrs. Barratt's good fortune, in having, through your Aunt 

 Gordon's recommendation, obtained such a desirable situation as 

 companion to old Mrs. Dacre, where she will have nothing 

 whatever to do." 



" I cannot, dear aunt," replied Blanche, still sobbing, " re- 

 frain from grieving at the loss I have sustained in dear Mrs. 

 Barratt, who has ever been to me a second mother ; but if you 

 will leave me, I will endeavour to be more composed." 



" Well, my dear, make haste, and wash away all traces of 

 your tears, for I expect some visitors this morning, and you 

 must be in the drawing-room to help me to receive them." 



Mrs. Harcourt was one of those cold, unapproachable beings, 

 living within the frigid zone, repellent alike, and impervious to 

 every genial influence ; in fact, she belonged to that numerous 

 class denominated the imperturbables, who consider it a breach 

 of decorum to be affected by those common occurrences which 

 exercise so foolish an influence over the generality of the human 

 race. Excess of grief for the loss of friends and relations, or 

 excess of joy at their recovery, in her ideas, betrayed a weakness 

 of mind in those who could indulge in such wayward fancies, 

 and decidedly at variance with the rules of propriety and 

 etiquette to be observed, without exception, upon all occasions. 

 She was one of those persons who would, if engaged in the 



