388 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



"There, Blanche,*' he whispered, "is a little wedding 

 present, which you must accept at my hands, unless you prefer 

 something else." 



"Indeed, William," she replied, "I have quite sufficient 

 jewellery already; and do not like putting you to greater ex- 

 pense on my account, after the immense sum you have paid 

 Lord Henry." 



" I have ordered these purposely for you, dear girl, and you 

 will seriously offend me by refusing them ; — they are fetters 

 for your hands, and a chain for your neck, by which I shall 

 bind you in cruel bondage to me for ever. Now, Blanche, there 

 is one other purchase I must make, of unspeakable value 

 to me, though of little value in itself — a plain ring for your 

 finger, which I shall keep until a certain auspicious morning." 



And Beauchamp, desiring a tray of rings to be brought and 

 laid on the counter, told the foreman to leave them for their 

 inspection, whilst he attended to his other customers. 



" Now, my dear girl, take off your left-hand glove, and try 

 one of these on your third finger." 



Blanche blushed deeply, and her hand trembled, so that 

 Beauchamp tried the rings for her ; and selecting the one 

 which fitted her best, said softly — " Why do you tremble thus, 

 my own dearest love ? Do you repent your choice % " 



" Oh, no, no, William ; never can I do that ; but I am 

 rather nervous this morning." 



"Then look at those jewels further down, my love, whilst I 

 have these things put up," which being done, he returned to 

 her. " Now, Blanche, which of those trinkets would suit dear 

 aunty best 1 for I must and will make her a present worth 

 her acceptance." 



" I fear she will think us both very extravagant children, 

 William, and lecture us, instead of receiving a present ; but I 

 was just thinking of buying those bracelets (pointing them out) 

 for her." 



" Then I shall take that trouble off your hands, Blanche, 

 and you shall give her this brooch instead ; but you need not 

 now pay for it, as Mr. Turner has my name on his books, and 

 I have desired him to send in my account, with these articles 

 included." 



Blanche remonstrated, but in vain; when Beauchamp, 

 taking up the two cases containing the brooch and the ring, 

 desired the other things might be sent to Grosvenor Square 

 by six o'clock at the latest that evening. 



