

AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR. 313 



of confining them to the hot, dusty ride in the Park, Malcolm 

 now accompanied the two girls on horseback into the country 

 almost every day, and Lord Ayrshire, noticing the hour at 

 which they generally left Grosvenor Square, frequently joined 

 them, although Malcolm gave him no cause for encouragement, 

 pertinaciously adhering to his cousin's side, leaving Constance 

 to be entertained by the Marquis. 



As the family in Grosvenor Square were loitering over a 

 late breakfast, a few days after Beauchamp's departure from 

 town, an unexpected visitor was ushered into the room, in the 

 person of his cousin. " Why, Fred ! " exclaimed Malcolm, 

 greeting him warmly, "who would have thought of seeing you 

 in the mighty Babylon — anything amiss at Bampton 1 " 



" Oh, no, Malcolm ! all right in that quarter." 



" Then what brought you here, if it is not an impertinent 

 question 1 " 



" A certain vehicle called a coach, with four as spicy nags 

 as you could wish to sit behind, from our last stage at Houns- 

 low." 



" Well, that I can suppose ; but you are not much of a city 

 mouse." 



" True enough, Malcolm ; but you know one fool makes 

 many, and as Bob Conyers and all the rest of our country 

 neighbours have set the example, you see I have been fool 

 enough to follow it, and take a peep at London life, since it's 

 deuced dull work in the provinces just now. Will returning 

 to do a bit of kennel with the young entry, I've got leave of 

 absence from the governor to have a shy at the Londoners." 



" Ay, ay, Fred, I see how it is ; Beauchamp has sent you up 

 here to look after us all." 



" Begging your pardon, my lord, Will is too knowing a 

 fellow to send a madcap like myself on such an errand, lest I 

 might do a little business on my own account in a certain 

 quarter," with a smile and look at Blanche. " No, no, Malcolm ; 

 I should in that case be like the monkey roasting chestnuts." 



"Well, Fred, we are all right glad to see you; and as Will 

 won't look at a certain young widow in a matrimonial point of 

 view, egad, I think she will just suit your book, id. est, if you 

 can take up the running." 



"Then, Malcolm, I've no objection to try my luck, provided 

 she is likely to suit." 



During this dialogue, broken at intervals, Fred had shaken 

 hands with the ladies, and answered various little inquiries 



