282 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



her own course, without further lectures or interference from 



me." 



"I am glad to hear such a determination on your part, 

 Beauchamp — teach her to fly to you as a refuge and comforter 

 from annoyances or troubles of any kind ; and you are secure 

 of her confidence and affection." 



" That is my intention, Malcolm, henceforth ; I have only 

 treated her as I would a dear young friend, when being first 

 thrown on the world, by giving her my best advice; firmly 

 believing she has sufficient good sense to appreciate my true 

 motives. Beyond this, you know she will never be fettered by 

 me; and I repeat, what I have before told you, that if, on 

 mixing more in society, she can find any man she prefers to 

 myself, no word of reproach or remonstrance shall ever escape 

 my lips. Lady Malcolm and yourself, under whose protection 

 she now is, must decide whether the person she may select is in 

 all respects, not in rank and fortune only, but in character and 

 disposition also, calculated to make her happy." 



"Come, come, Beauchamp, don't be riding the high horse 

 again ; you are always too soon up in your stirrups ; but you 

 ought to know, if you do not already, my true feeling in regard 

 to yourself ; so now, my dear fellow, let us say no more on this 

 subject, which is always a ticklish one with you." 



" To be accused of factoring your cousin, Malcolm, is not 

 very palatable ; as such an intention has never entered into my 

 head." 



u Then I recall the offensive expression, Beauchamp ; but 

 what I meant was this : that as Blanche has already, from 

 remarks I heard at Lady Arnmore's ball, created rather a sen- 

 sation in the beau monde (at which I am not the least surprised, 

 from her extreme loveliness), a little enhanced, no doubt, by 

 the other considerations of fortune and position, you must not 

 be too captious about her receiving that homage which is her 

 due. All women at heart are, I believe, fond of admiration, 

 and, depend upon it, Ayrshire will only stand as one of a rather 

 long list of admirers after her presentation at court. There is 

 one other point I must allude to : my mother is exceedingly 

 fond of the opera ; and as Blanche is living under her protec- 

 tion, I should recommend your not volunteering an exposition 

 of your peculiar ideas with regard to the ballet, which at 

 present happens to be the fashion." 



" My opinion with regard to the ballet, or any other objec- 

 tionable place of amusement, when called forth, shall never be 



