280 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



admiring glances towards Beauchamp as prognostic of more 

 serious intentions ; and she was becoming nervous and restless, 

 when Mrs. Fortescue, having chatted most agreeably for nearly 

 an hour on the various topics of the day, rose to take her 

 leave. 



" Well, Mr. William," asked Lady Malcolm, " what do you 

 think of the young widow ? " 



" Lady-like, rather pretty, and very pleasing, with the art, 

 peculiar to some ladies, of saying a great deal in a very pleasant 

 way about nothing; in other words, a very amusing, chatty 

 little person." 



Blanche breathed more freely. 



"And is this all you have to say of this most charming, 

 fascinating creature, to obtain from whom one approving smile, 

 such as she bestowed on you, half the young men in London 

 would feel extremely flattered 1 Indeed, Mr. William, I am 

 quite surprised at your want of taste," continued Lady Malcolm ; 

 " but you will think her more than pretty, when you hear she 

 has about eight thousand a year at her own disposal, which, 

 with a little attention, might become yours ; for, knowing her 

 sentiments on marriage, you are precisely the person to suit 

 her." 



" Beally, Lady Malcolm, I shall become disagreeably vain 

 if you pay me such compliments ; but I think there is little 

 prospect of my becoming a convert to your opinions respecting 

 this charming young widow ; every man has his peculiar fancy, 

 and ten or twenty thousand a year would not render her a 

 whit more pretty in my eyes than she is at present." 



"You will think differently when you become better ac- 

 quainted," replied Lady Malcolm. " And now, my dears," 

 addressing Blanche and Constance, " we will take our drive in 

 the park." 



" And we will join you there on horseback, my dear 

 mother," said Malcolm, " to keep off the bees and butterflies. 

 So come along, Beauchamp," as running down-stairs he sung : — 



" For she is a charming woman, 

 And he's a most fortunate man." 



"Egad, you're in for it, old fellow, and booked for the 

 widow, nolens volens." 



The afternoon being fine, there was a grand display of gor- 

 geous equipages in Hyde Park ; and it must be admitted that 

 in no city of the world can there be seen such beautiful women 



