A REPROOF. 190 



feelings, which are acute enough, without your accusing me of 

 being bad-tempered — that I am not, and never have been, 

 although I can feel an insult from those I love more deeply 

 than any man living. But now I am engaged, and must go in 

 search of my partner." 



As he turned away, Malcolm said, " Mind, Beauchamp, you 

 are of our party to the supper-table ;" to which no answer was 

 returned. 



On Malcolm's seeking Blanche, whom he found sitting with 

 her Aunt Gordon, she anxiously inquired, " Well, Charles, have 

 you succeeded in pacifying William 1 " 



" No, dear girl, I am sorry to say I have not yet prevailed ; 

 he seems exceedingly hurt, and says you refused him three 

 times, and that you ought at once to have taken his arm, in- 

 stead of Lord Danby's, as being positively engaged to him before 

 his lordship. This admits of no doubt, Blanche ; and he also 

 feels very much annoyed that you should have shown so distin- 

 guishing a mark of favour to Lord Danby, by accepting him for 

 two dances so close upon each other, contrary to etiquette and 

 his advice, and thereby placing him you have known so long in 

 an inferior position to an acquaintance of a few hours. This is 

 too true, my dear girl, and Beauchamp, with all his warm, 

 generous feelings, although most sensitive, is also most deter- 

 mined, and will put up with no slight or indifference from those 

 he loves." 



"Indeed, indeed, Charles," replied Blanche, with the tears 

 .standing in her eyes, " I did not intend, as you must know, 

 either to offend or slight William ; but I thought it would 

 appear so very rude to Lord Danby to refuse dancing with him 

 when we had taken our places." 



" Yes, Blanche, that may be all very true ; but recollect, it 

 is far better to appear rude to a stranger than to act unkindly 

 and unfairly to one of the dearest friends you will ever find in 

 this world ; and had Constance treated me as you have Will 

 Beauchamp, I don't know what would have been the conse- 

 quence ; for I tell you plainly it would have put me in a terrible 

 passion." 



" Oh, Charles, I am indeed miserable that you should also 

 think so hardly of me," replied poor Blanche ; " but pray, go 

 and tell William I am sorry in having offended him, that I will 

 hold myself bound to dance with him before any other person, 

 and will sit down until I have first fulfilled my promise to 

 himself." 



