3£0 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



Marquis continued his acquaintance, cards were exchanged, and 

 invitations followed, so that the two families were now on visit- 

 ing terms, and Lord Ayrshire had dined in Upper Brook Street 

 two or three times previously to the Harcourts' ball, when he 

 ingratiated himself into the lady's favour by bestowing the most 

 high-flown panegyrics on her niece, declaring her, without 

 exception, the belle of the season. Mrs. Harcourt in turn 

 descanted on her many amiable qualities, and gave a glowing 

 description of her fine mansion and large landed property in ; 

 Scotland, with a hint of their expectations that she would form 

 some suitable alliance. Having made these preliminary obser- 

 vations, Mrs. Harcourt flattered herself that, before the close of 

 the season, she should see her niece Marchioness of Ayrshire ; 

 and so in all probability she would, had Blanche been ambitious 

 of this distinction. 



On this night, Lady Arnmore, sitting near Mrs. Harcourt, 

 when her brother was dancing with Miss Douglas, remarked, 

 " I have never seen George so unremittingly attentive to any 

 young lady as he has been to Miss Douglas since our first ball. 

 We have long given him up as a confirmed bachelor, but I 

 really begin to think he is caught at last, and now for the first 

 time seriously in love." 



"My niece," replied Mrs. Harcourt, thinking to enhance her 

 value, "has very peculiar ideas on marriage, and having a 

 splendid fortune of her own, will neither many for title nor 

 money alone." 



" Well really, Mrs. Harcourt, they appear mutually pleased 

 with each other at present. Miss Douglas is the very person to 

 suit my brother, and provided he is sufficiently agreeable to her, 

 I think it will be a case for St. George's Chapel ere long." 



The fact was that Blanche, having met several of her old 

 country friends that night — the Markhams, Rollestons, Comp- 

 tons, and others — felt more at home and in higher spirits than 

 usual, which Lord Ayrshire interpreting in his favour, and at- 

 tributing to his own very delightful society, presumed to ask 

 for a second dance. That request, reminding her at once of her 

 absent lover's advice on this point, caused an instantaneous re- 

 vulsion of feeling and gravity of features. The thought passed 

 like a flash of lightning through her mind — "What would he say 

 to 1113'' gaiety to-night, whilst he is sitting at his lonely fireside, 

 thinking of his own dear Blanche ? " For a moment she became 

 lost in reverie, but on the question being repeated by Lord 

 Ayrshire, she replied, with some appearance of hauteur, "I 



