294 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



which they descended into the hall, and the ladies were placed 

 on their steeds by their respective cavaliers. 



Of all recreations, there is not one more exhilarating than a 

 ride in the country on a fine May morning, when the weather 

 is in that delightful temperature experienced generally in that 

 genial month. May is the season of youth to all vegetable 

 nature, then just bursting forth with all the freshness and 

 fragrance of its early bloom. Even the leaves of the trees 

 possess a softness of touch, and a lively, glossy verdure, which is 

 not to be found in any other month. 



As Beauchamp rode by the side of Blanche, he plucked a 

 beech leaf from a bough overhanging the road, and placing it in 

 her hand, said, " There, Blanche, is an emblem of yourself; can 

 anything be more soft and delicate than the down of that pretty 

 leaf, now just expanded in its youthful loveliness 1 Yet two 

 months hence, after the dust and heat of the summer's sun, all 

 this freshness and glossiness will be gone ; so will, I fear, dear 

 girl, the bloom now mantling in those glowing cheeks be de- 

 stroyed by the over-heated, unhealthy atmosphere of these 

 fashionable assemblies, which is more destructive to youthful 

 complexions than the burning rays of the midsummer sun to 

 the foliage of the trees." 



" Oh, William ! how I wish the London season was at an 

 end, at least, as regards myself. This puts me so in mind of 

 our happy rides in the country — shall we ever feel so happy 

 again 1 " 



" Yes, dear Blanche, there is no reason why we should not 

 feel happier still ; but all the happiness I can look forward to 

 depends solely on yourself ; and I fear the influence all this 

 gaiety and dissipation may have on your young heart and 

 mind. If those remain unchanged, by God's permission, I trust 

 far hapjner days await us than any we have yet enjoyed 

 together ; although nothing could or can exceed the transport 

 of that moment when first I found my love returned by her I 

 prized more than life. But a more calm and steady feeling has 

 now succeeded to that inexplicable, almost overwhelming sensa- 

 tion of ecstatic delight, which is experienced only on the first 

 discovery of our affection being returned ; but what it has lost 

 in its novelty is now fully compensated for by its enduring and 

 increasing strength. A truce now, however, to moralising ; we 

 must put our horses into a canter, to overtake Malcolm, who is 

 nearlv out of stent." 



After a pleasant gallop through Bichmond Park, the party 





