104 



THE MASTEE OF THE HOUNDS. 



in an extraordinary manner, and I suppose you must now be 

 called Miss Douglas." 



" Never by you, Charles, I hope," she replied, " or by any of 

 my true friends." 



" Well, dear girl, I am delighted to find you looking so lovely 

 and so happy ; but tell me," in a whisper, " how is Constance 1 " 



" As beautiful as ever, or more so," she replied, laughing ; 

 " but we have been staying at that disagreeable place, Marston 

 Castle, nearly a week, and therefore I have seen nothing of her 

 during that time." 



" Well, then, Blanche, we will ride over to Bampton the 

 da} r after to-mori'ow." 



" Why not to-morrow, Charles 1 " 



" It won't do, my dear ; old Harcourt would take offence at 

 my leaving him the first day ; and, besides, I think to-morrow 

 is Beauchamp's hunting day, and I long to shake him by the 

 hand; for, between ourselves, Blanche, my love for Constance 

 has arisen partly from my love and esteem for her brother, who 

 is a man after my own heart." 



During the latter part of this speech, Blanche, feeling a 

 little colour spreading over her cheek, turned away, and ran up- 

 stairs to change her dress. 



The next day, while Lord Malcolm was sitting with Mrs. 

 Harcourt and Blanche in the drawing-room, Lord Vancourt 

 was announced, who remained for nearly an hour, paying very 

 pointed attention to Miss Douglas. When he left, Mrs. Har- 

 court asked Malcolm — 



" What do you think of Lord Vancourt 1 Is he not most 

 polished and agreeable, and strikingly handsome 1 " 



"All that I admit, yet I don't like him." 



"Why?" inquired Mrs. Harcourt. 



" I can't say exactly, but he has an expression to me quite 

 repulsive, and from which I should set him down as haughty 

 and bad-tempered." 



" Oh, that is only your fancy, Malcolm." 



" Perhaps so, but I shall not alter my opinion until I know 

 more of him." 



No further remarks were made by Mrs. Harcourt, who did 

 not wish Blanche to be prejudiced against Lord Vancourt, in 

 case her cousin should not now come forward, as was expected. 

 But when Blanche and Malcolm went out afterwards for a walk, 

 the latter remarked upon his lordship's attentions to her, and 

 said — 



