206 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



my best thanks, and beg to say — that (another pause) — I beg to 

 say that I feel " — another pause — when a voice replied— 



" A bigger fool than I ever thought myself." 



Roars of laughter again burst forth, during which the 



master of the C Hunt resumed his seat in a violent 



passion ; and thus this speechifying terminated. 



Lord Danby was one of the first to quit the supper-table, 

 Blanche Douglas having thrown a spell of fascination over him, 

 which made him most anxious to become more intimately 

 acquainted with her ; when, finding her sitting with her two 

 aunts, Harcourt and Gordon, and Lady Seaton, he joined their 

 party, and stood talking with Blanche, until the sets were again 

 beginning to form. 



"Really, Miss Douglas, this is the most delightful ball," 

 Lord Danby observed, " I have ever attended ; everything is so 

 well arranged ; and the great variety of beautiful and elegant 

 costumes selected by the ladies renders it quite a fairy scene. 

 The music also is so enlivening, one feels it almost impossible 

 to resist its influence. Are you not, also, very fond of dancing, 

 Miss Douglas ? " 



" Oh, yes ! " she replied. " I enjoy a ball exceedingly." 



" Then, as I perceive you have no partner, will you consider 

 me too presuming in petitioning for the honour of another 

 dance ? " 



" I must beg to decline, Lord Danby, being already 

 en^a^ed." 



" Really," he continued, " I think your partner, whoever he 

 may be, deserves severe punishment for his negligence or indif- 

 ference, in preferring his friends' society in the supper-room to 

 yours." 



"He may, perhaps, be detained there against his inclina- 

 tion," she replied ; " or, probably, is not aware that dancing has 

 re-commenced." 



"You are very considerate and forbearing, Miss Douglas, 

 where, perhaps, your clemency may fail to be appreciated ; 

 although I can scarcely believe it possible any gentleman could 

 for a moment forget an engagement with yourself." 



" Then, of course," she added, " my partner being unavoid- 

 ably absent, I cannot think of punishing him unjustly by 

 accepting another in his place." 



"But if you will accept my arm conditionally," pleaded 

 Danby, "until he makes his appearance, I promise to resign 

 your hand the moment he approaches." 



