THE YOUNG WIDOW. 279 



vent her calling, or Lady Malcolm will be seriously offended 

 with us all." 



"You shall do no such thing, Miss Marplot," returned 

 Malcolm; "or I'll pay you off, Blanche, and peach about 

 something else — don't you or Constance give a hint even to 

 aunty." 



" Yery well, I suppose we must submit • but now I think 

 the carriage will be waiting for us." 



After handing the ladies in, Malcolm walked home with 

 Beauchamp across the park, who was most kindly received by 

 his mother, with a general invitation to her house. Soon after 

 luncheon visitors began calling, and the Marquis of Ayrshire 

 was announced, who, from the occurrences of the previous 

 night, entertained the idea of having made a favourable im- 

 pression on Blanche, and appeared rather disconcerted by her 

 distant behaviour to him. His lordship's polite inquiries were 

 met with brief, though courteous replies ; and, as her attention 

 was so much occupied with Beauchamp, who was sitting near 

 her, he very soon made his conge, muttering, as he went down 

 stairs — 



" Ah ! some fox-hunting cousin, I suppose, fresh from the 

 country, with all the parish news ! " 



The gay young widow, Mrs. Egerton Fortescue, was next 

 announced, and received by Lady Malcolm in the most friendly 

 manner, and introduced by her to Blanche, Constance, and 

 Beauchamp. She had married very early in life (being taken 

 almost from the school-room to the altar), at her mother's 

 instigation, Mr. Fortescue, a gentleman of large fortune in the 

 north of England, although old enough to be her grandfather ; 

 but having made him a most dutiful and attentive wife, during 

 the five years they lived together, he had bequeathed to her his 

 whole fortune, on his decease, unfettered and uncontrolled. 

 Mrs. Fortescue, although not strikingly handsome, was decidedly 

 pretty and extremely fascinating ; and there was a sweetness in 

 her smile, and gracefulness in her manner, with a total absence 

 of all affectation, which rendered her particularly interesting 

 iind attractive. She had now, although a widow, only attained 

 her twenty-second year ; and, through her late husband's con- 

 nections, had obtained a good introduction amongst the aristo- 

 cracy. 



Constance took a great fancy to the young widow ; but 

 Blanche, recollecting Lady Malcolm's observations on a former 

 occasion, felt far from happy in her company, regarding her 



