BLANCHE IN LOW SPIRITS. 31 J 



Of the small family party at dinner that evening, Lady Mal- 

 colm was the only person in buoyant spirits, poor Blanche sitting 

 silent and depressed. When the servants withdrew, she rallied 

 her niece on her desponding looks. " Come, my dear, cheer up ; 

 you will scarcely be presentable at Lady Arnmore's to-night." 



" Indeed, dear aunt, I hope you will excuse me going with 

 you there, as I am quite unequal to any exertion this evening." 



" Well, my love, you are to do exactly as you please now, in 

 accepting or refusing any invitations ; for, to confess the truth, 

 I have accepted many more than I usually do, entirely on your 

 account, in the full expectation, after the impression you have 

 made, of seeing an announcement in the papers, before the con- 

 clusion of the season, of a certain little ceremony having been 

 performed at St. George's, Hanover Square, between the Mar- 

 quis of A. or D. and the beautiful and accomplished Miss 

 Douglas, niece to Lady Malcolm of Grosvenor Square. Of 

 course, my dear, there was a little pardonable vanity, on my 

 side, mixed up in this anticipated denouement, but as you appear 

 to think Lady Beauchamp a much prettier name — to which I 

 quite agree — with the Countess of Annandale in perspective, I 

 have only been building castles in the air to little purpose, like 

 other enthusiastic people. Yet, joking apart, my dear Blanche, 

 I thoroughly approve your choice." 



Blanche, blushing excessively, expressed her thanks for 

 her aunt's kindness and commendation of her lover, when 

 Malcolm added, " Ah, my dear, that Will Beauchamp is a very 

 Bluebeard already, and what will he become with a title tacked 

 to his name ? My gracious ! as Mrs. Summertop says, there 

 will be no living in the same house with him. To begin, my 

 love, he has laid an embargo on you, that you do not attend 

 more than three balls or parties per week, and appointed me 

 keeper of the seals, or private turnkey, to lock you up in your 

 own room every other night after eleven, and it shall be done, 

 Blanche, by Jupiter Amnion ! as the old squire says. Will 

 Beauchamp is a long-headed fellow, and his edicts and opinions 

 are not to be gainsaj^ed ; so now, my love, as you don't go with 

 us to-night, I will see you to your room before I leave the 

 house, and take the key in my pocket. Just fancy Ayrshire's 

 astonishment — anticipating, no doubt, a little tete-a-tete in his 

 sister's boudoir. l Are we not to have the honour of seeing 

 Miss Douglas to-night 1 ' ' Oh, no, my lord, can't come — very 

 naughty — locked in her room — here's the key.' " 



" Oh, Charles, Charles," exclaimed Mrs. Gordon ; " can't you 



