396 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



■which was readily forgiven, their seats were resumed in the 

 carriage as before, until the last stage on the road, where 

 Malcolm and Blanche joined Mrs. Gordon for the Priory, and 

 the old earl drove off, with his son and daughter, to Bampton. 



CHAPTER XLIX. 



The following morning, very early, Blanche was in the full 

 enjoyment of the flower-garden ; buoyant in spirits, light at 

 heart, and as perfectly happy as it is possible for any human 

 being to be. Soon after breakfast, Beauchamp rode over to see 

 his beloved, with whom he spent the day. How different were 

 his feelings now to the last time he had wandered through the 

 grounds of the Priory, accompanied by Blanche Douglas — then 

 with the feverish, restless anxiety about her first entrance on a 

 new sphere of life, and the dreaded influence of the world on her 

 guileless, unsuspecting mind. The ordeal had now been passed, 

 temptation resisted, and her constancy to him proved beyond 

 doubt or cavil. Beauchamp had cause to be proud of all this. 

 He was not proud, however, but thankful — deeply thankful 

 to that Almighty Power by whose grace and protection she had 

 been preserved from falling into those errors and follies by 

 which so many young girls are influenced. 



They were sitting now in the old arbour during the heat 

 of the day, Blanche reclining on a rustic chair, whilst these 

 thoughts were passing through Beauchamp' s mind. He was 

 silent for a few moments, which she noticed. " Of what are you 

 thinking, dear William ? " Still there was no reply. 



" Will you not tell me," she inquired, " what has caused this 

 sudden thoughtfulness ? Surely, 1 may now share in all your 

 cares, as well as pleasures. Tell me, then, my own dear William, 

 what has made you look so serious." 



" I was thinking, my dearest girl, of that deep debt of 

 gratitude I owe to God for the ineffable and undeserved happi- 

 ness I now enjoy in having you restored to me again, unaffected 

 and uncontaminated by the world, as when we last sat together 

 here ; and a thought crossed my mind, to pour out my thanks 

 to our merciful Father for this blessing, on this very spot, 

 where we last parted in sorrow and sadness, and now meet 

 in joy." 



