ANOTHER LOVE-MATCH. 251 



no information ; so be on your guard, although she suspects 

 how the case stands." 



"But surely, William, you may now safely speak to Mr. 

 Harcourt; he will not refuse the heir presumptive to an 

 earldom." 



" Me he would refuse, were I heir to a dukedom, under his 

 present lacerated feelings, which must have time to subside; 

 but we will consult Aunt Gordon on the subject, although my 

 own impression is, that he will most decidedly refuse my pro- 

 posals, and I fear, dear Blanche, that we must have a little 

 more patience." 



" For myself, I do not care," she replied ; "but it vexes me 

 to see you obliged to use subterfuge and evasion, which imply 

 a doubt of my true feelings towards you, and place you in such 

 a humiliating position." 



" Talk not of humiliation, dear Blanche ; you have made me 

 one of the proudest men in existence, and you alone can humble 

 me ; for the rest, remember, 'the course of true love never did 

 run smooth,' and I am content to suffer anything for you, so 

 that I am sure of your love." 



" Of that you ought to be doubly assured, since I have the 

 prospect of becoming Lady Beauchamp. You are quite safe 

 now, William, if not before — so don't feel jealous again," she 

 replied with a laugh. "Now let us go and sit with Aunt 

 Gordon until supper time, for I shall not dance again till I have 

 had a glass of wine, and aunty says she shall drink the health of 

 Lord and Lady Beauchamp in a bumper." 



As Blanche and Beauchamp were approaching Mrs. Gordon, 

 they observed the old squire and her in earnest conversation, 

 evidently engrossed with each other. 



" Stay, Blanche," whispered Beauchamp ; " my governor 

 looks as|if he were making love to aunty; let us turn aside 

 elsewhere." 



" Oh, William, how can you talk such nonsense 1 " 



" My clear girl, there is no nonsense in the case, but just the 

 reverse ; the squire considers your aunt perfection, and there 

 we must both concede he is not far out in his reckoning. 

 Well, then, what are they both to do, when Malcolm carries off 

 Constance from Bampton, and I run away with you from the 

 Priory % which I propose doing on the very first fitting opportunity, 

 provided you don't give me the slip in London, and run away 

 with some one else first. There will be an old solitary man in 

 one house, and a, (we must not say old) solitary lady in another. 



