THE PARTY HALTS AT NEWBURY. 393 



away there is little danger. Rather, however, than frighten 

 Blanche again, I would be two days on the journey, instead of 

 one ; but if our pace does not suit you, you and Constance can 

 join the governor, and let us have Aunt Gordon." 



" And not a bad move either, with two such slow coaches as 

 yourself and Blanche," replied Malcolm. " Egad, old fellow ! 

 that girl will soon make a regular Molly Coddle of you ; and 

 as for hunting, riding over five-barred gates and double ditches, 

 after you are married, don't again think of such dangerous 

 exploits ; but if my timid little cousin had accepted Danby 

 or Ayrshire, she would have been bowled along thirty miles an 

 hour, malgre her tears and entreaties, which they would only 

 have laughed at." 



" I never would have accepted either, Charles, which you 

 know very well," replied Blanche, indignantly. 



" Lucky for you you did not, my love, as no one would 

 have suited you but this soft-hearted fellow, Beauchamp, who 

 is ever giving in to your whims and fancies." 



" And ever will, Malcolm, when they are not unreasonable," 

 added Beauchamp ; " so a truce to further badinage. Blanche 

 shall do as she likes with her own." 



"And that means you, as well as her horses, old fellow." 



" Exactly so, Malcolm," was the good-humoured reply, which 

 restored the party to their usual cheerfulness ; and after chang- 

 ing horses at Hounslow, they again set forth on their journey, 

 and halted not on the road until they reached Newbury, where 

 Beauchamp, seeing some beautiful trout, ordered them for an 

 early dinner, and waited for his father and Mrs. Gordon, a stroll 

 being proposed in the meantime. 



On returning to the inn, after a short walk, they found the 

 venerable earl with his companion, both of whom inflicted a 

 sharp lecture on Beauchamp and Malcolm for leaving them so 

 far behind. 



" No help for it, governor," said Malcolm ; " those fiery bays 

 of Lady Beauchamp's ran away with us, and very nearly cap- 

 sized the whole lot into a broad-wheeled waggon — just the 

 nearest thing imaginable, half an inch more, and — oh my, what 

 a scrimmage ! " 



" I will engage, Charles, you had something to do with it," 

 replied Mrs. Gordon. 



" Just the smallest, littlest finger in the pie only, this time, 

 aunty dear — merely asked Beauchamp to put them out a wee 

 bittie to try their paces, and off we went at Derby speed. 



