322 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



At the appointed time, therefore, the two girls ensconsed 

 themselves in the most retired seats of the apartments they could 

 select, hoping to escape observation. 



"There, I declare," exclaimed Selina, "that jackanapes 

 Bayntun has found us out already ; " as he approached with, 

 " May I have the honour, Miss Douglas 1 " 



" No, you can't," said Selina, " she's engaged as well as 

 myself." 



" Very odd, Miss Markham, that you should both have lost 

 your partners." 



" Your lordship is always thinking about the odds," replied 

 Selina ; " but, whether odd or even, we hav'n't lost our partners, 

 and as you can keep a stable secret, I will tell you a ball-room 

 one. We are both tired of dancing, and therefore have decided 

 on a little respite. You know what running a horse off his legs 

 means, so have a little compassion on Miss Douglas." 



" Then will you allow me the next dance after this, Miss 

 Douglas 1 " 



An assent being given, Selina added, " On the condition 

 that you leave us now to ourselves," with which Lord Henry 

 bowed and withdrew. 



" Well, my dear Blanche, what a bore it must be to be a 

 belle, listening night after night to all the soft twaddle of so 

 many soft heads. I declare it would drive me distracted, or send 

 me to sleep, and I advise you to pick out half-a-dozen of your 

 best and richest admirers to choose from, and turn the rest 

 adrift, for it is high time to make up your mind, and select one 

 pet to keep the others off from so continually pestering you 

 with their attentions. A projws, the on dit is, in well-informed 

 circles, that Lady Malcolm has given Will Beauchamp his conge 

 for proposing to her niece, and that his travelling ticket was 

 made out at a moment's notice, and it does appear very strange 

 that he left in such a vast hurry, Avithout the slightest notice 

 to any one." 



" And pray, Selina, of whom did you hear this news 1 " 



" My brother Ned says it is the general talk at the clubs, 

 where, by the way, there is more gossip discussed than at any 

 old woman's tea-party. Those clubs, my dear are the cause of 

 quarrels and dissensions among married couples, almost innu- 

 merable, and mischief incalculable — destructive of connubial 

 bliss j for, on the slightest pretences, the husband flies off to his 

 club, then somewhere else, and leaves his poor young wife mop- 

 ing at home. In short, I recommend you to make it a condition 



