A SCENE. 349 



" It is too late, Blanche ; I have sworn to do so, and will 

 keep my oath. You have forced me in despair to utter these 

 hasty words; your false pride will entail this misery on us 

 all." 



It was now Blanche's turn to beg and implore her lover to 

 alter his determination ; but her voice fell unheeded on his ear, 

 and leaning his head on his hand, he seemed lost in thought, 

 and deaf to her entreaties. 



' Oh, William," she exclaimed, " why will you not speak to 

 me 1 only say you will not go." 



" Go, yes, I know I must go," he muttered, without regard- 

 ing her ; " Blanche Douglas sends me forth an outcast from my 

 home, to die among strangers, scorned, despised, and neglected 

 by her, for whom I would have sacrificed a hundred lives, had I 

 them to give. Let me go," he cried, springing wildly from his 

 seat, as she attempted to hold his hand. " I am crazed, mad- 

 dened ! " and seizing his hat, he was rushing from the room 

 like one distracted, when Blanche threw herself in his way, and 

 casting her arms round his neck, cried, " In mercy, speak to me, 

 my own dear William , I am yours, now and for ever. Oh, say 

 you will not leave me ! " 



At that appeal his pent-up feelings gave way, and as his 

 tears fell on her neck, he murmured, " Oh, Blanche, Blanche, 

 you have nearly killed me ! " 



"Forgive me, dear William, this once," she whispered, "I 

 will never cause you another moment's pain ; " and feeling him 

 totter under her weight, she led him to the sofa, where he fell 

 back exhausted on the cushion. She was kneeling by his side, 

 fruitlessly endeavouring to rouse him from his stupor, when 

 Mrs. Gordon entered. " Oh, aunt, aunt ! I have killed him by 

 my folly — what can I do ? " 



" Eun, my love, for a glass of wine ; he has only fainted from 

 over-exhaustion, poor fellow, having travelled day and night 

 since your letter reached him." 



Blanche rushed down-stairs into the dining-room, and seiz- 

 ing a decanter and glass from table, flew like a fairy to her 

 lover's rescue, who had begun to recover consciousness from 

 Mrs. Gordon's application of salts. Blanche, trembling and 

 shaking, poured half the bottle over her aunt's dress, then too 

 intent on Beauchamp to notice it ; and having succeeded in 

 making him swallow half a glass of wine, she continued bathing 

 his forehead with eau de Cologne, until he revived and tried to 

 sit up. 



