390 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



" Well, Malcolm," said the old peer, " what do you think 

 of Will taking us all by surprise with that smart equipage for 

 Blanche, and not to tell even his old father what he was 

 about 1 " 



"Just like him, my dear governor — always doing things on 

 the sly." 



" And always thinking of those hejoves, before himself," 

 added Mrs. Gordon. 



"Now then, Will, off with your party," cried his father, 

 " whilst Mrs. Gordon and myself bring up the rear." 



In ten minutes the four bays were trotting majestically 

 through Hyde Park, making light of the barouche which 

 followed at their heels, and the four happy occupants of its 

 inside seats, whose cheerful voices and beaming smiles betokened 

 their joy of being once more "homeward bound." No two 

 schoolboys could be in higher spirits than Malcolm and Beau- 

 champ; nor were Constance and Blanche less happy at their 

 emancipation from the thraldom of town life. 



" Now then," cried Malcolm, when they had left the streets 

 behind them, " let us see what Blanche's bays can do ; put 

 them along, Beauchamp." 



" Pray don't let them go too fast, William," she cried, as he 

 rose to speak to the postilions ; "pray don't, to oblige me." 



" Well, my love, then they shall only canter up the next 

 rising ground, to show Malcolm how they can go together," 

 which direction was given ; but when once put on their mettle, 

 the horses increased their speed to a full gallop, and raced 

 away for a couple of miles, in spite of every effort to stop 

 them. " Hurrah ! " exclaimed Malcolm ; " now we go Leger 

 pace, by jingo ! Blanche, they can gallop a few." 



" Oh, William," cried both the girls at once, now seriously 

 alarmed, " pray stop them, or we shall be dashed to pieces." 



" Sooner said than done, my dears," said Malcolm ; " but sit 

 still, or you will be thrown out, you two silly girls." 



Beauchamp, occupying the front seat with Blanche, and 

 seeing the boys straining in vain to pull up their horses, shouted 

 out, " Steady, my lads ; let them go, but hold their heads near 

 together, and sit firm in your seats." 



To Beauchamp's horror, they were now rapidly approaching 

 a broad- wheeled waggon occupying the centre of the road, 

 with its jingling bells, and no appearance of a driver, who was, 

 he concluded, as usual, half asleep inside. Destruction to them 

 all seemed almost inevitable, and he turned deadly pale, when a 



