A COMMOTION AT THE PRIORY. 215 



" Quick, Blanche, one word only ; have you accepted Lord 

 Danby ? " 



" Oh, Charles, how can you ask me such a question ? " 



"On your life — your honour — answer me truly — without 

 evasion — have you positively, unconditionally refused him 1 " 



" On my honour, Charles, yes ; but what makes you ask me 

 so vehemently ? " 



" Because Beauchamp has been here, saw you sitting with 

 your hand in his, and the sight has driven him distracted ; but 

 I must be gone this moment and follow him, or I know not 

 what he may do in his excited state." 



Malcolm rushed from the house, and mounting his horse, 

 which his servant held at the door, galloped instantly away to 

 overtake his friend. Mrs. Gordon, who was returning from 

 her poultry-yard, alarmed at the furious galloping of horses up 

 the carriage drive, entered the house hastily, and inquired of 

 the footman what it meant, and who had been calling there. 



" The Marquis of Danby, ma'am, has been here and is just 

 gone. Mr. "William Beauchamp rode into the yard, and left 

 his horse, but before it could be put into the stable, he returned 

 and took him from John's hand, and rode off as fast as he 

 could go. My lord has also ridden full gallop up to the lodge." 



"What can have happened, Thomas 1 " asked Mrs. Gordon, 

 anxiously. 



"Nothing that I know of, ma'am; but John said Master 

 William was in a terrible way about something, and looked like 

 a ghost." 



"Good gracious ! " exclaimed Mrs. Gordon ; "but where is 

 Miss Douglas 3 " 



" In her own room, I believe, ma'am ; " and immediately 

 Mrs. Gordon rushed up-stairs, and found Blanche in an agony 

 of grief. 



" My own child " (throwing her arms round her niece), 

 "what on earth has happened? what is the meaning of all I 

 heard about Lord Danby, Beauchamp, and Malcolm riding so 

 furiously away, and you in tears too 1 Dear Blanche, pray tell 

 me what has caused this dreadful commotion ? " 



"Dear, dear. aunt," replied Blanche, crying bitterly, "I am 

 the unfortunate cause of all." 



Blanche then related what had occurred between herself 

 and Lord Danby, and that Beauchamp having, on passing the 

 window, seen him take her hand, rode away, as her cousin told 

 her, in a distracted state, refusing to stop or listen to him a 



