276 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



having one moment left the ball-room ; " although," she added, 

 " I feel convinced, dear William, I could not have been absent 

 longer than twenty minutes." 



"My own dear Blanche, do not worry yourself another 

 moment on this account. There is nothing very particular, 

 that I can see, in your wishing to escape for a few minutes 

 from such a furnace into a cooler atmosphere ; and had you not 

 done so, a scene might have ensued from your fainting." 



" Dear, dear William, I am so glad you are not displeased 

 and take my part — for all others I do not care, let them say 

 what they please." 



At this moment Aunt Gordon made her appearance, and 

 Beauchamp, rising to meet her, was met by a warm salute on 

 his cheek. 



"My dear boy ! I am so overjoyed to see you that I cannot 

 refrain from giving you a kiss. You are not jealous, Blanche, I 

 hope. Now sit down, William, whilst I make the tea, and tell 

 me all the country news — first of your father, and then our 

 other old friends." 



As Beauchamp was proceeding in his relation, Malcolm 

 entered the room, exclaiming, " Oh, my prophetic soul ! Will 

 Beauchamp, I declare ! Well, old fellow," shaking him warmly 

 by the hand, " I was dreaming of you and the governor last 

 night ; we had just pulled down our fox in the open, after a 

 burster of forty minutes, when in getting off my horse to save 

 the brush, I found myself getting out of bed ! So here you are 

 at last, just in time, my boy, as Blanche is, as usual, getting into 

 all kinds of scrapes, and another runaway match already on 

 the tapis." 



" I have heard all about it, Malcolm, and don't think she is 

 much to be blamed in this matter." 



" Ah ! a cannie chield — there is nothing like having the 

 first word, and telling one's own story, Beauchamp ; but now — 

 how is the governor 1 " 



"Hale and well, with serious intention of coming up to 

 town next week." 



" Hurrah ! " shouted Malcolm ; " he'll be the lion of the 

 season, with his leathers and tops, for no one can persuade him 

 to leave them off, I suppose." 



"Not until dinner-time, certainly," replied Beauchamp. 

 " Well, old fellow, where are you holding out % " 



"At Long's Hotel, and my horses will be up to-morrow 

 night." 



