300 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNT>S. 



Danby and myself must remain for the future strangers to each 

 other." 



" I shall not be influenced, William, by anything he or Charles 

 may say, and shall leave you to judge, by my conduct towards 

 him, whether I do not feel as deeply in your cause as Constance 

 or Mr. Conyers." 



" There, now, my dear girl, run away to dress, or you will 

 be very late, and keep Lady Malcolm waiting. Come, give me 

 your hand ; good night." 



" But where are you going ? " she inquired, still holding his 

 hand. 



"With Conyers, to be sure; we must have our share of 

 amusement as well as yourself." 



" Oh, pray, dear William, do not go with him to those horrid 

 places he spoke of. Promise me not to go there." 



" If you wull promise not to dance two quadrilles with any 

 one partner to-night, I will give up going to the theatre, and 

 sit with Aunt Gordon instead." 



" The promise is yours, although you know there was no 

 occasion to ask it ; and I thank you, my own dear William, for 

 resigning your amusement to please me. I shall not forget 

 your kindness ; " saying which, she tripped out of the room. 



Malcolm and Constance had both left, and Conyers being 

 engaged in conversation with Mrs. Gordon, Blanche and Beau- 

 champ had an uninterrupted tete-a-tete. 



" Well, Beauchamp," exclaimed Conyers, " what does 

 Blanche think of our intended visit to the green-room to-night ? 

 A little fillip of that sort was not out of place, as she appeared 

 to take it so coolly, going to Castleton House, without uttering 

 a syllable, pro or con." 



" Poor child ! what could she have said ? " asked Mrs. 

 Gordon, " in her present situation ? But I can tell you, William, 

 that she does feel very acutely, and so do I, Lord Dauby' s 

 behaviour to you, and you may rest assured she will resent it also." 



" I am glad to hear it," replied Conyers, " for I hate half 

 measures with friends or lovers, and Malcolm has fallen fifty 

 per cent, in my estimation, by trying to throw dust in Wijl 

 Beauchamp's eyes." 



" Charles is very perverse sometimes," added Mrs. Gordon ; 

 "and he felt to-night his mother could not well decline going 

 to the duchess's first ball ; but we shall find him different 

 to-morrow." 



" I hope so," said Conyers, " or he'll find me very different 



