MR. HARCOURT ATTACKS MRS. GORDON. 221 



the Priory, vowing vengeance, and resolving to insist on Blanche 

 being restored to their protection. 



Mrs. Gordon was sitting alone at her work in the drawing- 

 room (Malcolm and Blanche having ridden over to Bampton), 

 when Mr. and Mrs. Harcourt pounced in upon her, and with 

 scarcely the usual civility of shaking hands, the gentleman 

 rushed in medias res, or in plainer terms, was at her without 

 circumlocution, boiling to deliver himself of his angry thoughts. 



" So, Mrs. Gordon, I find you have persuaded your niece to 

 reject the Marquis of Danby ; a young nobleman of unblemished 

 character, large fortune, and heir to a dukedom ! What fault 

 could you find with him, Mrs. Gordon 1 He is handsome, most 

 amiable in disposition (Sir Lionel and all his family speak in 

 raptures of his lordship), and agreeable ; in short, perfectly un- 

 exceptionable in every respect. But I suppose it did not suit 

 your views that my ward should accept his lordship ; and there- 

 fore her prospects in life are to be sacrificed that you may carry 

 out your own plans." 



" My plans ! Mr. Harcourt," exclaimed Mrs. Gordon, unable 

 to contain her indignation any longer, "how dare you accuse 

 me of planning ! You and your friend, Lord Mervyn, are plan- 

 ners, and very creditable plans you devise between you ! I per- 

 suade my niece to reject Lord Danby ! I scorn the imputation, 

 sir, and throw it back, as a base, untrue, unmanly assertion. 

 My influence never has been, and never shall be exercised like 

 yours, in inducing her to marry any man ; neither have I been 

 instrumental in her refusal of Lord Danby ; and I say, without 

 fear of contradiction, in which I shall be fully confirmed by his 

 lordship, that he has received from me every facility for im- 

 proving his acquaintance with my niece since he has been in 

 this neighbourhood. From the day we dined at Sir Lionel 

 Markham's, Lord Danby has had the entree of my house at all 

 times ; Lord Malcolm and myself have treated him with the 

 greatest kindness, from his being previously known to Charles ; 

 he has dined here very frequently ; has often seen Blanche 

 alone, when I have been out or otherwise engaged ; in short, 

 we all liked him so much and thought so highly of him, that 

 latterly his visits were made without the least formality, and he 

 was received on the footing of a friend. These are plain facts, 

 Mr. Harcourt ; and had I any intention, or any reason what- 

 ever, to prejudice Blanche against Lord Danby, or throw any 

 obstacle in his way, it is quite needless for me to say, orders 

 might have been given to my servants to refuse him admittance ; 



