A MEETING OF OLD ACQUAINTANCES. 281 



and splendid horses as in the metropolis of England during the 

 fashionable season. As Malcolm and Beauchamp rode leisurely 

 along, they recognised many acquaintances from the country — 

 Lady Markham, the Comptons, Rollestons, and others ; and, on 

 rounding the corner into Rotten Row, came nearly into collision 

 with the Captain, who exclaimed — 



"Eh, Beauchamp, 'pon honour — nearly unhorsed me, old 

 fellow — blind with dust — such a crush — ah ! Malcolm — how 

 do ? — just passed the ladies — couldn't get near — Ayrshire, 

 Danby, and lots of swells in close attendance — met the Har- 

 courts — everybody in town — Barnet, Gwynne, Melville, and 

 even Bob Conyers." 



Leaving the Captain, Malcolm and Beauchamp essayed in 

 vain to reach the side of the carriage which contained their 

 treasures. 



" Hopeless attempting it now," remarked Malcolm. " That 

 fellow, Ayrshire, sticks like a leech to every pretty new face 

 which takes his fancy. The harder the conquest, the more he 

 perseveres. Blanche's coolness this morning has put him on his 

 mettle." 



"If that is his game, Malcolm, the probability is, that he 

 will put me on ray mettle — and very soon, too." 



"No, no, Beauchamp — let us have no more scenes — you 

 must take things quietly, as I do. Moreover, women don't like 

 their lovers to be tied to their apron-strings morning, noon, and 

 night, to the exclusion of all other men ; and, you know, a good- 

 tempered horse won't bear to be ridden on the curb continually 

 — it frets and galls the most tractable. So bear in mind, that 

 if you are perpetually lecturing and hectoring Blanche, she will, 

 much as she loves you now, be disgusted — and remember the 

 trite old verse — 



1 Be to her virtues ever kind ; 

 And to her faults a little blind ; 

 And put the padlock on your mind.' 



Even your hounds would not fly to and love you as they do, 

 were they to be met with rating and the whip, instead of 

 endearment and caresses." 



" Yet the voung hounds I am obliged to rate and correct 

 sometimes, Malcolm, when they are doing wrong, and they do 

 not love me the less for it. But now, I tell you frankly, after 

 having given Blanche every caution I thought necessary on 

 her entering this new sphere of life, she is quite free to follow 



