BLANCHE REFUSES A MUNIFICENT GIFT. 331 



the aged peer, and for some days lie appeared to be gaining 

 strength. One morning he took Blanche to his private room, 

 and unlocking an iron closet, showed her the family jewels, 

 which had been deposited there since the death of the late 

 countess. 



" There, my dear girl, are diamonds and other precious 

 stones, and valuable trinkets, which once belonged to my poor, 

 dear, departed wife, and into your keeping I now entrust them, 

 for which purpose I wished to see you here and give them into 

 your own hands; there is an inventory, my love — we must assure 

 ourselves that none are missing, so lay them out on the table." 



" Indeed, my lord, I cannot accept your too munificent 

 offer." 



" And why not, my child 1 ? 



No answer was returned ; but a deep blush overspread her 

 face, suffusing her very brow, and her eyes were riveted on the 

 ground. 



" I know what is passing in your thoughts, my dear girl," 

 aided the Earl ; " you are not yet Beauchamp's wife ; but tell 

 me truly, do you prefer another to him ? " 



" Oh ! no, no, my lord — all my hopes of happiness are 

 centred in him alone ; but perhaps he may " 



" What, my child ! prefer another to you ? Does he, did he 

 ever love any other but yourself 1 " 



"Indeed, I believe he never has, my lord." 



" Then rest assured, my dear child, he never can — for where 

 would he find a second Blanche Douglas ? so now do as I desire,, 

 and let us both compare the list with the contents." 



" I will willingly assist you, my lord, in that work, if you 

 desire ; but in my present position, I trust you will pardon me 

 for maintaining my purpose of declining to accept the family 

 jewels." 



"Well, child, I respect your delicacy, and will not press, 

 you further now, only assist me in my examination," which 

 occupied them for some considerable time, the Earl noticing and 

 commenting on the value of each ornament ; and when all 

 were found correct, and returned to the closet, the key was 

 again offered to Blanche, who, with tears in her eyes, begged to 

 be excused taking it. 



" Indeed, my lord, I feel your kindness more than I possibly 

 can express, and it pains me to refuse you ; but I cannot over- 

 come my repugnance to presume on a situation which, by some 

 unforeseen event, perhaps may never be my lot to fill." 



