BLANCHE IN THE CONSERVATORY. 273 



rather favour than retard my plans," said Lord Henry; " so let 

 him have his head ; mine must be now a waiting race, as there 

 are two favourites before me." 



From the overcrowded state of the rooms, the heat now 

 became so oppressive to Blanche, that Lord Ayrshire, noticing 

 her distress, remarked, " You are not yet, I see, accustomed to 

 this tropical climate, Miss Douglas, which almost exceeds the 

 temperature of India ; and as a lady's fan is but a poor substi- 

 tute for a puncha, I will conduct you to my sister's little bijou 

 of a conservatory, where you will find relief from this melting 

 atmosphere, although few are ever admitted into her sanctum, 

 for fear of her choice collection of plants and flowers being in- 

 jured or plucked." Blanche was glad to escape almost anywhere 

 from such crowded rooms, being quite overcome, and ready to 

 faint from the excessive heat ; and Lord Ayrshire, having led 

 her by a private door into this comparatively Elysian retreat, 

 placed his sister's easy chair before her, saying he would return 

 directly with some refreshments ; and he soon reappeared, fol- 

 lowed by a servant bearing ices and cooling beverages, which 

 being placed on a small table, the man withdrew. 



Blanche having expressed her thanks to Lord Ayrshire for 

 his polite attentions, and feeling now renovated by a glass of 

 wine and water, rose to leave the conservatory. 



" There is no necessity for your hurrying away so quickly, 

 unless you prefer dancing in that hot room to this cool retreat." 



"I do not intend dancing again to-night," replied Blanche, 

 " having suffered already so much from the heat, to which I am 

 not yet inured. But Lady Malcolm will wonder what has 

 become of me." 



" Oh, do not trouble yourself on her account. Chaperons 

 do not expect to see much of their charges, when dancing has 

 once commenced ; but should your absence be noticed, Lady 

 Malcolm, I am quite sure, will feel obliged, instead of displeased, 

 at my having saved you from fainting." 



Thus pressed, Blanche consented to remain a few minutes 

 longer, Lord Ayrshire directing her attention to the choice and 

 rare collection of plants with which they were surrounded ; and 

 thus occupied, and with his agreeable conversation, the time 

 passed away rapidly ; and half an hour had nearly elapsed, when 

 Blanche, hearing the carriages arriving, expressed her desire to 

 join her aunt without delay, which was of course complied 

 with. 



Lady Malcolm's carriage had just been announced, when 



R 



