MALCOLM'S SURMISES CONFIRMED. 303 



truth of Beauchamp' s surmises ; and, if correct, they should 

 leave within the hour. Mrs. Gordon taking no notice of this 

 remark, Malcolm remarked, " Does not this proposal please you, 

 aunt I " 



" It is of little consequence what pleases me, Charles." 



" Then you think, aunt, I suppose, we ought not to go at 

 all 1 " 



There was no reply, as at this moment the carriage was 

 announced ; but Malcolm, on taking his mother's arm, said — 



" We shall be home in an hour, aunt, if you will sit up till 

 we return." 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 



On their arrival at Castleton House, Lords Ayrshire and Danby 

 were waiting near the door of the reception-room, and asked 

 Blanche for the honour of her hand. Lord Ayrshire, being- 

 first, was not refused. 



" May I plead for the second, then, Miss Douglas 1 " in- 

 quired Lord Danby. 



" I cannot engage myself for more than one dance," was 

 the reply, " as Lady Malcolm intends remaining a very short 

 time," with which she and Constance passed on to be presented 

 to the Duchess, Lord Ayrshire following, who, after the cere- 

 mony of introduction, offered his arm to Blanche. Lord 

 Danby, directly afterwards meeting Malcolm, remarked on 

 Miss Douglas's cool reception of him, and asked if he knew 

 the cause. 



" Why, to tell you the truth, Danby, Miss Beauchamp feels 

 hurt at her brother not being invited to your party ; and these 

 two girls, having been brought up together as sisters, share in 

 each other's feelings and fancies ; and an indignity offered to 

 one is felt by the other." 



" Oh, indeed, Malcolm, it was quite an oversight of my own 

 in not sending Mr. Beauchamp a card for the occasion ; but, 

 from his almost living in Grosvenor Square, I thought he would 

 consider himself included in the invitation to your family." 



" Would you have presented yourself at any house, where 

 yon. were almost a stranger to the heads of the family, on such 

 an implied invitation ? " 



" Why, I scarcely know, Malcolm." 



