AUNT GORDON MAKES A DISCLOSURE. 305 



retired; and when his mother went up to her room, Lord 

 Malcolm said, " Beauchamp and Conyers have judged rightly ; 

 there can be no doubt now, from what Danby let fall, of the 

 slight being premeditated." 



; 'So we all thought, Charles ; and I only regret you should 

 have allowed your temper to get the ascendancy over your 

 judgment, by ridiculing your friends' opinions." 

 ■ " You know I hate dictation ! " he replied. 



" Yet invariably practise it, Charles." 



" How so, aunt 1 " 



" I have observed with deep sorrow your frequent attempts 

 of late to throw discredit or contempt on almost every opinion 

 expressed by William Beauchamp, and your ridicule of his 

 honourable and religious principles ; in short, since his arrival 

 in town, your object appears to have been to make him feel the 

 distinction between Lord Malcolm and Mr. Beauchamp. Now, 

 however quietly he has borne outwardly your taunts and 

 sarcasms, it is impossible that he does not feel acutely, although 

 it has not been expressed openly, this change in your conduct ; 

 the result of which will be the rupture of that friendship which 

 I had hoped and prayed might exist between you to the end of 

 your lives." 



" Indeed, aunt, I should be grieved to think, as you do, that 

 anything I have said or done could destroy our regard for each 

 other ! " 



" Then, Charles, be more cautious for the future, and bear 

 in mind that true friendship admits of no assumed superiority 

 of one person over another ; you have assumed that supe- 

 riority ; and observe, it is, as I say, assumed, since in not one 

 single particular are you superior to him you condescend to call 

 your friend ; no, not even in " 



" In what 1 " inquired Lord Malcolm, as his aunt stopped 

 short. 



" I was going to reveal what, perhaps, I ought not to have 

 mentioned ; but as this is the last time I shall ever address you 

 on this subject, I will trust to your honour not to disclose the 

 secret without my permission." 



" It shall be strictly observed, aunt ; so, pray, proceed ! ' : 



" Then, William will become, on the death of an old rela- 

 tive, now near ninety, Lord Beauchamp ; and his worthy father, 

 Earl of Annandale." 



"What!" exclaimed Malcolm, in astonishment ; "are you 

 -serious, Aunt Gordon ? " 



T 



