146 



THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



Mrs. Gordon, took her hand in his, which he held for some 

 time, but all utterance failed him. 



" I can't thank you now," he at last said, as the tears still 

 rolled down his cheek; "and poor Blanche !" whose hand he 

 next seized, " thank Heaven ! you are saved, dear child, from a 

 fate worse than death ! " 



"Oh, Mr. Beauchamp," she sobbed; "I am the wretched 

 cause of all your grief. What would I not give to save William 

 one moment's pain 1 " 



" Would you give this, dear girl 1 " he whispered, in a low 

 tone, pressing her hand in his, " to make my poor boy happy f " 



" Yes," she said, softly, and blushing deeply ; " all I possess 

 in the world." 



"The wound in his side," said Mr. Beauchamp, "will, I 

 trust, yield to the doctor's skill ; but he has another, I suspect, 

 which only this little hand can heal. Come with me, then, my 

 own dear child, and be Will's comforter." 



Saying which, he led her to the sofa ; and, placing her hand 

 in that of his son, said, in a whisper — 



• " There, Will ; that will heal all your wounds : and may 

 the Almighty bless you both." 



"Oh, Blanche," murmured Beauchamp, as he pressed her 

 hand to his lips, " how far beyond all my fondest hopes is this 

 reward ! but, dearest, I must not claim it now, when you are' 

 overpowered with gratitude." 



"Will you refuse, then," she said, softly, "to make me 

 happy 1 " 



"No, no, my own dearest girl; not if love only prompts 

 you to bestow this unlooked-for blessing on me. Is it so, dear 

 Blanche?" 



" Yes," was the faint response. 



"Then am I blessed indeed," replied Beauchamp; "and 

 now, dearest, you have been so excited to-night, I hope you 

 will retire to your room with Constance. I shall quickly 

 follow your example, as I know Aunt Gordon is gone to order 

 beds for us." 



^ During this scene, Mrs. Gordon and Malcolm had silently 

 left the apartment, leaving Mr. Beauchamp and Constance only 

 with the two lovers. The former now appeared, saying, " I 

 have ordered a double-bedded room, Mr. Beauchamp, for you 

 and William, as I knew you would not. like to leave him to- 

 night ; and the tray to be brought in directly, with something 

 more substantial than tea. And now, dear William, you must 



