224 



THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



thinking, from what occurred at the ball, and afterwards at 

 Barton Court, when you were sitting so long with Lord Danby, 

 and so evidently pleased with his society, that his attentions 

 must be most agreeable to you ; and it was on that account 

 solely, and lest my presence might influence you, or deter him 

 from an expression of his sentiments, that I absented myself so 

 long from the Priory." 



" Well, dear William, you do not now, I hope, believe that 

 I ever intended anything more than common civility to Lord 

 Danby ; but to convince you of my unswerving attachment to 

 yourself, here is a little present which I had purchased expressly 

 for your own hand, within this last week" — producing a beautiful 

 diamond ring, with a small lock of her hair inside — "and which 

 you must wear as a symbol of my love. Come, give me your 

 hand — I shall place it myself on your finger, and when I cease 

 to be your own dear Blanche, as you so often call me, then 

 return this ring to me again." 



" That you will never cease to be to me, my own sweet 

 girl," pressing her to his heart ; " and now, dear Blanche, see 

 that I also had prepared a similar present for yourself, which I 

 had intended giving you after the hunt ball j and now I must 

 examine which finger it will fit best." 



" Place it where you would my wedding-ring, dear William ; 

 and now, with my hand in yours, by that token I pledge my 

 faith to you. Dear William, will that pledged promise satisfy 

 your jealous, unjust suspicions 1 and will you from this hour 

 promise never to doubt more your own dear Blanche 1 " 



" Yes, dear girl, that promise I give most cheerfully, and 

 trust to observe most faithfully ; but, believe me, without any 

 desire to extenuate my own conduct, true, devoted affection 

 cannot exist without some jealousy ; and now tell me, were I 

 to pay great attention to any pretty, girl by dancing with her 

 two or three times on the same night, and sitting with her 

 apart from the other company, when meeting at dinner or other 

 parties, — were I also, in addition to these little acts of attention, 

 to be frequently calling at her father's house, and monopolising 

 her society as much as I conveniently could, — would you not, 

 dear girl, experience some little uneasy sensations at my con- 

 duct, and begin with good cause to doubt the sincerity of my 

 professed undivided regard for yourself 1 " 



" Unquestionably I should, William ; but with a full know- 

 ledge of your meaning, and seeing how you intend to apply it, 

 the case between us is not exactly parallel. Gentlemen have 



