331 THE PIASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



richest earldoms in the kingdom — here he is — William Beau- 

 ehamj} : then Mrs. Gordon's departure with Constance and 

 Blanche, following so soon after — why, the fact is, no doubt, 

 they have all been staying at Annandale Castle." 



" Well, I think it is unpardonable in Lady Malcolm and 

 Mrs. Gordon keeping us in the dark so long." 



" That is our own fault, my dear, for speaking so often in a 

 derogatory tone of Mr. Beauchamp, who is a great favourite 

 with both those ladies ; and therefore they have kept the secret 

 to themselves." 



" Still, Mr. Harcourt, were he a duke, instead of Lord 

 Beauchamp, as I suppose he must now be called, he shall never 

 have my consent to marry my niece." 



" You need not trouble yourself, my dear, as your consent is 

 not necessary." 



" Then yours, as her guardian, is ; and if you have the spirit 

 of a mouse, which I sometimes doubt, you will not submit to be 

 insulted and despised in this barefaced manner." 



" I must be guided by circumstances, Mrs. Harcourt, and 

 do not intend to follow your example, by losing my temper 

 when there is no occasion for it. You appear to forget all 

 about the trial, and are blind to the fact that Mrs. Gordon is 

 joint guardian with myself to Miss Douglas. What would my 

 opposition be now worth, with Lady Malcolm's influence thrown 

 into the scale against me 1 Nothing, Mrs. Harcourt ; literally 

 worse than nothing ! I should, in that case, be insulted and de- 

 spised to my face, as you are pleased to say I have been already." 



" Oh, I see. You wish to curry favour with the ruling 

 powers ; and the Earl of Annandale is, of course, a very 

 different person to the old fox-hunting Squire of Bampton." 



" Undoubtedly, my dear, he is, as a peer of the realm • and 

 Lord Beauchamp is now entitled to demand the hand of Miss 

 Douglas. In short, the Lord Chancellor, if appealed to on the 

 subject, would, without hesitation, give his approval to the 



marriage." 



" I hate those Beauchamps, Mr. Harcourt — the son particu- 

 larly, who has occasioned us such disgrace in that trial ; and I 

 had rather have seen Blanche Douglas Lord Vancourt's wife, 

 bad as he was, than William Beauchamp' s bride." 



" You ought to be ashamed to express such feelings, what- 

 ever may be your secret thoughts, Mrs. Harcourt. Mr. Beau- 

 champ behaved with great courage and forbearance throughout 

 that unfortunate affair, and acted as I should myself." 



