EN ROUTE FOR TOWN. 259 



proved, more than words could tell, what his feelings were, 

 although utterance failed him from emotion, which, unable 

 longer to control, he turned quickly away, and rushed towards 

 the stables for his horse. 



"There goes," said Malcolm, "a man whose deep feelings 

 are almost, if not quite, a misery to himself ; and I fear Will 

 Beauchamp is more to be pitied than envied in the possession of 

 too sensitive a heart." 



" Oh, no, Charles," replied Mrs. Gordon ; " it is that very 

 profound depth and delicacy of feeling which has so endeared 

 him to me since a boy, and made me love him as my own 

 son." 



" Ah, aunty dear, he is, I know, a paragon of perfection in 

 your eyes ; but notwithstanding his heart is in the right place, 

 he is confoundedly jealous and haughty too ; and I suspect we 

 shall have a scene or two with him in town, if my sweet cousin 

 there attracts many admirers." 



"I do not wish to have any more admirers, Charles," 

 replied Blanche; "and will take care never again to give 

 William the slightest cause for uneasiness on that account." 



" A noble resolution, my unsophisticated little pet ; but, v 

 a cat may look at a king, I conclude men may look at and 

 admire Blanche Douglas without being thought very imperti- 

 nent. But wait a little, my love ; and, when you have been a 

 month in London, you will think very differently on these 

 matters." 



" I hope never, Charles," was the reply, which being echoed 

 by Mrs. Gordon and Constance, prevented Lord Malcolm from 

 venturing any further remarks on the supposed fickleness of the 

 fair sex. 



CHAPTEB, XXX. 



The hurry and excitement of travelling with four-post horses, 

 and the ever- varying objects on the road, roused and diverted 

 Blanche Douglas from giving unchecked indulgence to more 

 gloomy thoughts ; Mrs. Gordon using her best endeavours also 

 to draw her attention to other things. But still, the unbidden 

 tear would glisten in her eye, as she dwelt on her parting with 

 him whom she loved far beyond every human being ; and save 

 when losing the kind instructress of her early years, this pang 



Q 2 



