3ion." 



A PROPOSAL AND ITS RECEPTION. 127 



" A proposal for your hand, dear girl — that is my impres- 



" Oh, Charles," exclaimed the poor girl, almost in tears, and 

 turning deadly pale, " what can I say 1 " 



" Say ! my dear Blanche, what you think you ought to say." 



" Oh, indeed, Charles ! I never could accept such' a man." 



"Heaven forbid you should," returned Malcolm, "for by all 

 accounts, a worse character does not exist. Refuse him, my 

 dear girl, point blank — no evasions or after considerations — 

 and don't listen a moment to Mrs. Harcourt's persuasions. 

 You don't like him, and won't marry him ; stick to that, and 

 mind, I will stick to you through thick and thin." 



At this moment a servant entered, saying Mrs. Harcourt 

 wished to see Miss Douglas in her morning-room. 



" Very well," replied Malcolm, " she will be there directly. 

 Now Blanche," said he, pouring out a glass of wine, " drink 

 that, my dear girl, to keep up your courage ; and recollect I 

 shall be listening to hear what you say ; be firm and decided, 

 and we will take a walk together afterwards." 



Poor Blanche, dreading a lecture as well as a proposal, 

 entered her aunt's room, trembling with apprehension, and 

 being offered a chair, was obliged to listen to the contents of 

 Lord Yancourt's letter, with many comments thereon from 

 Mrs. Harcourt. 



"And now, my dear child," continued her aunt, most affec- 

 tionately, " you will, of course, not decline such an unexception- 

 able offer. Lord Yancourt is so handsome, so agreeable, and 

 talented in addition to his i*ank, that you really ought to feel 

 highly flattered by the preference he has shown you, inde- 

 pendent of his professions of deep attachment to yourself, which 

 I am sure, from his manner, he must feel." 



"Indeed, aunt," replied Blanche timidly, "I cannot accept 

 him." 



"Not accept him, Blanche? and why not?" she inquired, 

 in well-feigned astonishment. 



" Because [ cannot love, or even respect him, aunt ; his very 

 looks frighten me." 



" What nonsense, child ! you are so timid ; but all that will 

 pass away when you have known him longer." 



" I do not wish to marry yet, aunt, and never can accept 

 Lord Yancourt ;" and, notwithstanding all her aunt's entreaties, 

 remonstrances, and even menaces of her displeasure, Blanche, 

 emboldened by a slight cough at the door, adhered firmly to her 



