208 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



champ cannot be engaged to my niece without her guardian's 

 consent, which, I am quite sure, he will never obtain from Mr. 

 Har court ; nor has it ever been solicited. He and Miss 

 Douglas have been known to each other from childhood, which 

 makes them, of course, on very intimate terms ; and Lord 

 Malcolm, her cousin, is also, I believe, engaged to Mr. Beau- 

 champ's sister." 



" Oh, perhaps, then," said Lord Danby, " this may account 

 for that cordiality which is observable in their manner to each 

 other." 



" Most certainly," replied Mrs. Harcourt ; " Mr. Beauchamp 

 cannot reasonably entertain any other views towards my niece, 

 knowing the utter impossibility of his ever standing in a nearer 

 relation to her than he does at present." 



Lord Danby, thus assured by Mrs. Harcourt, and knowing 

 no cause to doubt her authority or sincerity in speaking so 

 unreservedly on the subject, treated Blanche's rumoured engage- 

 ment to Beauchamp as mere gossip, without any good founda- 

 tion ; and accordingly resolved to prosecute his suit if, on nearer 

 acquaintance, she realised his expectations. 



Beauchamp, although not doubting Blanche's resolution to 

 adhere to her intention of not accepting any other partner than 

 himself for the remainder of the evening, thought it more 

 prudent to compromise the matter by engaging her for the 

 last dance only. 



" It would be very improper in me, dear girl," he observed, 

 " to expose you to the remarks which would assuredly follow, 

 and excite Mrs. Harcourt's suspicions of our attachment, which, 

 for the present, it is more prudent to conceal ; but, believe me, 

 I do not for a moment doubt your constancy, or love for me as 

 a brother," he added in a lower tone, which she did not appear 

 to have heard. 



" What can I say, then, William, to Lord Danby, should he 

 ask me again 1 Mrs. Harcourt will take offence, I suppose, if I 

 refuse him." 



" You are not to consult Mrs. Harcourt's, but your own 

 feelings, Blanche, in such cases ; and knowing the general 

 opinion on this point, you, of course, are the best judge, 

 whether you feel inclined to give further encouragement to 

 Lord Danby by such a very particular mark of favour, as 

 accepting him three times for your partner, on the first night of 

 your acquaintance. Lord Danby and lookers-on will of course 

 draw the natural conclusion that you approve those marked 



