AN AIRING IN THE PARK. 263 



at her house ; and it had been resolved by Mrs. Gordon, before 

 leaving the Priory, to keep her engagement a profound secret 

 for the present — even from her own sister. Lord Malcolm, 

 notwithstanding his love of fun and frolic, with which he could 

 not forbear teasing Blanche occasionally, was too sincerely 

 attached to her and Beauchamp to betray their position, even 

 to his own mother ; and although sometimes venturing within 

 the precincts of the forbidden ground, yet he possessed sufficient 

 tact to perceive how far he could advance without discovery, 

 and made amends for any little escapade of this kind, by his 

 unwavering determination to serve his friend in more impor- 

 tant points. 



The next day Lady Malcolm was " not at home to visitors,' * 

 thinking that her sister would prefer one day's quietude after 

 her journey ; but she could not resist the temptation of taking 

 Blanche and Constance for what is termed an airing (although 

 generally proving a dusting) in the park, at the fashionable hour, 

 when, from the multiplicity of carriages, anything beyond a 

 walking pace is extremely problematical. The slow order of 

 rotation in which the wheels move serves, however, in place of 

 a conversazione for the equestrians who are seen lounging by 

 the side of those wheels which contain anything like a pretty 

 face, or a partie in other respects desirable, discussing the 

 fashionable topics of the day. Numerous were the polite bows 

 of recognition directed to Lady Malcolm by her aristocratic 

 acquaintances on passing her carriage. But the two most per- 

 tinacious affixions to each side of the carriage were Lord Henry 



Bayntun (second son of the Duke of B ) and Sir John. 



Martingale, a young sporting baronet of large fortune, both well 

 known to Lord Malcolm, who being introduced to Blanche and 

 Constance, maintained their position for some time to the 

 exclusion of several others, equally attracted by the beauty of 

 the fair occupants of Lady Malcolm's carriage, and hovering 

 near in the hopes of an introduction. 



Lord Henry having exhausted his fund of topics, generally 

 considered so entertaining and interesting to young ladies, 

 about the opera, balls, parties, reunions, receptions, and other 

 gaities, guocunque nomine gaudent, and receiving very unsatis- 

 factory replies from Blanche to his various inquiries as to 



meeting her at the Duchess of C 's party on the 10th ; the 



Countess of D 's ball on the 12th; or Lady Mary W 's 



grand concert at the Hanover Square Booms on the 14th, he 

 raised his hat and withdrew ; being soon after joined by the 



