A FIRM REFUSAL. 207 



Blanche still quietly declined, when Mrs. Harcourt over- 

 hearing her, interposed ; " Surely, my dear, you will not refuse 

 Lord Danby on such fair conditions ; it is your partner's duty 

 to be in attendance, if he wished to dance with you ; and you 

 are not to sit still to suit his convenience." 



" I have danced twice with Lord Danby already this evening, 

 Aunt Harcourt, and having experienced some unpleasantness in 

 accepting one partner when engaged to another, I prefer sitting 

 down to causing any further disagreement." 



" Oh, that is the gentlemen's affair, my dear ; you have 

 nothing to do with their differences." 



" Indeed, but I think she has, Mrs. Harcourt," observed 

 Aunt Gordon, " and Blanche is acting most wisely in declining 

 to give offence to any one ; " and putting her niece's arm within 

 her own, she walked off to another part of the room. 



" You have done quite right, my dearest girl," said Aunt 

 Gordon, " in refusing Lord Danby ; and I hope you will never 

 follow Mrs. Harcourt's advice, who does not care what scrapes 

 she may lead you into, or what annoyance you may suffer, when 

 a lord is in the case ; vain, foolish woman ! one would think 

 she had caused mischief enough already by trying to force Lord 

 "Vancourt upon you ; but here comes William. Well, sir,"" 

 she said, " are you not ashamed of yourself, to be sitting drink- 

 ing with your boon companions so long, when you knew you 

 were engaged to Blanche 1 " 



" Indeed, dear aunt, I was not aware that such was the case, 

 or nothing should have prevented me leaving the room earlier ; 

 although, as it is, I have given great offence by resigning my 

 presidential chair so soon." 



"Well, William, I was only joking, but, as this quadrille is 

 now half finished, sit down with me and Blanche in this snug 

 corner, and tell us what that shouting was about." 



Beauchamp gladly complied ; and his fair listeners laughed 



exceedingly at his description of the Master of the C 



Hunt's attempts to return thanks. 



When Beauchamp stood up with Blanche some short time 

 afterwards, Lord Danby remarked to Mrs. Harcourt, " Oh, 1 

 see now who the gentleman is to whom Miss Douglas was so 

 unwilling to give offence ; and I am told Mr. Beauchamp is 

 decidedly in great favour, if not already engaged to her ; yet, 

 considering what has occurred, this is almost a natural con- 

 sequence." 



"You are greatly misinformed, Lord Danby. Mr. Beau- 



