222 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



and last of all, when he called yesterday, and proposed to 

 Blanche, I was quite unaware of his having been here, until 

 some time after he had left the house." 



" It appears most extraordinary to me," replied Mrs. Har- 

 court, " quite inexplicable, how Blanche could refuse such a 

 person as Lord Danby." 



"And so you thought before, Mrs. Harcourt, when she 

 refused Lord Vancourt ; preferring to be guided by her own 

 feelings instead of listening to your advice ; and fortunate 

 indeed, poor girl ! for her, that she summoned resolution enough 

 to think and act for herself. In this instance she has done the 

 same thing, and feeling no deeper regard for Lord Danby upon 

 so short an acquaintance, she of course declined his proposal. 

 There is nothing very extraordinary in such conduct, unless you 

 can show that my niece is under the imperious necessity of 

 accepting any nobleman who proposes, whether she likes him 

 or not." 



" I should like to know," retorted Mrs. Harcourt, " how 

 often your favourite, Mr. Beauchamp, has been here lately ? " 



" Without keeping an exact register of all persons who call 

 at the Priory," replied Mrs. Gordon, " I think I may safely say 

 that since the ball he has called twice, and dined here once 

 only ; therefore his presence cannot have operated as a counter- 

 foil to Lord Danby, who has had the field quite open to the 

 prosecution of his addresses, without the slightest interven- 

 tion from any other person whatever ; and I may add that, 

 guessing his lordship's intentions from his very frequent visits, 

 I pointed out to Blanche the advantages of such an alliance, 

 and his many good qualities, leaving it entirely to her own 

 feelings to accept him or not." 



" Oh, indeed, Mrs. Gordon ; but pray, where is Blanche ? as 

 we wish very much to see her." 



" She is out riding with her cousin," was the reply. 



The Harcourts rose soon after and took their leave, seeing 

 no grounds for further altercation with Mrs. Gordon, who had 

 so completely turned the tables on them. 



As the time fixed for holding the assizes drew near, 

 Blanche became exceedingly nervous, requiring all Beau- 

 champ's tenderness and encouragement to strengthen her for 

 the coming trial ; and every hour he could spare was devoted 

 to her. 



" Oh, William ! " she exclaimed one day, when they were 

 walking arm-in-arm in the garden ; " I have such a dread of 



