THE LOVERS ARE TAKEN BY SURPRISE. 359 



admirers, who declared they could exist only in the sunshine of 

 your smiles 1 " 



" Fulsome flatterers all, dear William ; my love and smiles 

 are for you only, and I never wish to see London again." 



" Well, then, my love, run off to Aunt Gordon, and ask her 

 to prepare for leaving as soon as convenient to herself — the day 

 after to-morrow, if possible." 



All the party in Grosvenor Square were much amused, if 

 not edified, with Beauchamp's description of his interview with 

 Mr. Harcourt, and his beating about the bush to ascertain 

 whether he had money enough to bear the brunt of the fight 

 now pending ; and Malcolm shook with laughter at the wording 

 of the paper Beauchamp had induced him to sign. 



« Why, my dear girl, old Harcourt, by this document, has 

 assigned and made over to Beauchamp all his right and title in 

 you, as if you were a floating cargo of goods or merchandise. 

 What put it in your head, Beauchamp, to write all this down?" 



" To make him ashamed of denying his bargain, if he ever 

 felt inclined to do so, and to prevent his again interfering with 

 that dear girl, of whom he has so often tried to make mer- 

 chandise." 



" Well, thank goodness, we are quit of him at last ; and 

 now, Beauchamp, if we don't mangle that rascally firm of 

 Mangle and Co. it is our own fault." 



" They shall have it, Malcolm, thick and threefold, and we 

 will see Macvittie to-morrow." 



CHAPTER XLIV. 



The same evening, as Blanche was singing to Beauchanq), the 

 door of the drawing-room opened, and, without being announced, 

 the old squire, now Earl of Annandale, quietly walked in, 

 taking them all by surprise. Constance sprang forward. " My 

 dear, dear father," she exclaimed, and rushed into his arms. 

 Blanche ceased singing, and rose to meet him, although with 

 some hesitatian, which observing, he said, "Have I still another 

 daughter % " 



"Indeed you have, my dear father," she cried, and was 

 instantly locked in his embrace. "You naughty, undutiful 

 child ! " murmured the old man, as he kissed her fr^head, 



