THE EAKL "FALLS ASLEEP." 333 



" Oh ! my dear lord," replied Beauchamp, in an impressive 

 voice ; " let not the Christian despair, who has God for his 

 Father, Christ for his Saviour, and heaven for his home." 



A smile for a moment stole over the attenuated features of 

 the dying peer \ his hold on Beauchamp' s hand relaxed, and he 

 fell asleep, to wake no more in this world of sorrow. 



CHAPTER XL. 



After the last sad rites had been paid to the deceased Earl, and 

 his remains deposited in the family vault, Mrs. Gordon, with 

 Constance, Blanche, and Malcolm, set out on their return to 

 London, leaving Beauchamp and his father at the castle. 



We must now take a retrospective view of what had been 

 occurring in town since their hasty departure, which, of course, 

 being soon known, created no little curiosity in fashionable 

 circles, as well as amongst Blanche's admirers, to ascertain the 

 cause of their sudden flight. But Lady Malcolm, at her son's 

 desire, would afford no further information (neither would 

 Fred Beauchamp) than that they had gone into the country for 

 a few days, but would return again to town shortly; with 

 which all were obliged to rest contented. 



As Mrs. Harcourt was sitting at breakfast one morning, 

 scanning the column in the Morning Post appropriated to 

 births, marriages, and deaths, to which her attention was always 

 first directed, as customary with many of her sex, she ex- 

 claimed : — 



" Goodness, Mr. Harcourt ; wonders will never cease. Only 

 hear this : — 



" ' At Annandale Castle, the Earl of Annandale, in his 

 ninety-sixth year. He is succeeded in his title and vast 

 estates by Mr. Beauchamp, of Bampton House (now seventh 

 Earl of Annandale), who, with his son and daughter, have been 

 staying at the Castle for some time.' 



" Impossible ! this must be a hoax ! " 



" A hoax, my dear ! Who do you think would put such a 

 thing in print, unless it were true 1 " 



" Oh ! Selina Markham ; just to annoy me." 



" Pooh ! nonsense ! but now Lady Malcolm's mystery is 

 explained — of her niece being attached to the heir of one of the 



