284 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



" Oh, no doubt, my dear girl, we have all our little failings 

 of temper and prejudice," replied Malcolm; "and I confess to 

 being ruffled occasionally, as well as others." 



" Then I think," added Mrs. Gordon, " you should make 

 some allowance for your friend, who, I am convinced, always 

 speaks and acts from the most pure and honourable motives." 



Lady Malcolm entered the room at this moment, and ex- 

 pressed her surprise at not seeing Beauchamp, it being now five 

 minutes past the dinner time. 



" Shall we wait another quarter of an hour 1 " she asked of 

 her son. 



" I do not believe Beauchamp intends dining here to-night," 

 was the reply; "as neither your ladyship nor myself asked him 

 for this particular day." 



" I was not aware that William Beauchamp had become a 

 person of such formality and consequence." 



" Neither has he," added Mrs. Gordon. 



" Then what can be the cause of his absence 1 " inquired 

 Lady Malcolm. 



" Me me aclsum quifui" cried Malcolm ; " I am the offender 

 — we had a little altercation in the Park about young ladies 

 witnessing the ballet, which Beauchamp does not approve ; and 

 venturing to hint that, as my lady mother was rather partial to 

 that exhibition, his opinions on that point had better be sup- 

 pressed in your ladyship's presence, he said the expression of 

 his sentiments, when called forth, should never be smothered, 

 even in the presence of royalty itself. Something more was 

 said by me about his old-fashioned ideas, when he turned short 

 round, saying he had letters to write ; since which I have not 

 seen him." 



" I applaud William Beauchamp," said Mrs. Gordon, " for 

 his manly, uncompromising defence "of what he believes right ; 

 and much as I love him for his kind, affectionate disposition, I 

 respect him still more for his firm and virtuous principles." 



" To which I give assent, Aunt Gordon ; so now, my dear 

 mother, let us have dinner; and I will take a polite note of 

 invitation to his hotel for to-morrow." 



Immediately after breakfast, the next morning, Mrs. Gordon 

 ordered her carriage, and called upon Beauchamp, whom she 

 found busily engaged in writing a long letter, which, on entering 

 his room, he was hastily putting aside with evident looks of 

 confusion. Rising and welcoming Mrs. Gordon in the most 

 affectionate manner, Beauchamp expressed the honour he felt 



