BLANCHE GIVES HER CONSENT. 353 



and Beaucliamp, thinking the present a most favourable oppor- 

 tunity for making his proposals for her hand, obtained her con- 

 sent to apply to her guardian for his formal approval of their 

 marriage. " Out of evil good often proceeds, dear Blanche," 

 ho observed, " and Mr. Harcourt may be induced now to give 

 his consent, which, under different circumstances, he would have 

 refused ; for I believe he is so worried by the thought of being 

 called on to refund the rents, that he will be too happy to shift 

 any further responsibility off his own shoulders on to mine, or 

 any man of substance you might select ; and as you have pro- 

 mised never to turn restive again, you will, I trust, my own 

 dearest Blanche, no longer hesitate to invest me with the title 

 to defend your rights and protect you from all further annoy- 

 ance. In me you shall ever find a true friend and brother, as 

 well as husband, and all my energies shall be directed to pro- 

 mote your happiness." 



" That, dear William, I can never doubt ; and I quite agree 

 with you that the present is a propitious time to obtain Mr. 

 Harcourt' s consent." 



We must now relate what was passing elsewhere. The news 

 of Miss Douglas's loss of fortune sped with the rapidity ill news 

 is ever wont to travel with. Lord Henry Bayntun having ascer- 

 tained the fact from Mr. Mangle, whom he had been consulting 

 on some little affair of his own, and meeting Lord Ayrshire at 

 his club, all the particulars were communicated to the marquis, 

 at the conclusion of which recital Lord Henry observed, " A 

 deuced lucky escape for you, Ayrshire." 



" What do you allude to, Bayntun % " 



" Oh, Danby thinks the heiress threw you over." 



u Danby had better attend to his own affairs, Bayntun, and 

 not meddle with other men's concerns ; because he has been 

 overturned, as you call it, I suppose he wishes to make it appear 

 that I have had no better success ; but who is his authority '? 

 That I shall expect to know, not choosing my name to go the 

 round of all the clubs as a rejected man." 



" Tut ! tut ! Ayrshire, don't flare up in that fashion. Danby 

 merely expressed that as his opinion ; for he said he had tried 

 to ascertain whether you had proposed or not, from Malcolm, 

 who refused to give him any information ; so it is merely con- 

 jecture on his part." 



"Very likely, Bayntun; but I shall be obliged by your 

 telling him, with my compliments, to keep his conjectures to 

 himself for the future. You know, when I set my mind on 



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