398 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNT)S. 



A month lias passed — it is the 1st of August, a bright and 

 lovely morning. Again are Lord Beauchamp and Blanche 

 kneeling side by side, the latter never more to rise as Blanche 

 Douglas. She is kneeling at the altar, with her hand in his, 

 whose cherished name she now bears, as the wife of William 

 Beauchamp. The village church of Bampton is thronged with 

 spectators, rich and poor, to witness the double marriage of 

 Beauchamp and his sister. Lord Malcolm looked serious enough 

 during the ceremony ; but his love for teasing Blanche would 

 break forth directly after, when he whispered, "The Gordon 

 knot, my love, is tied at last, which dear aunty has been so long 

 in weaving." 



" And most thankful am I, Charles, to Heaven," she replied, 

 "and to that dear aunt for such a blessing." 



There was not a vacant pew that morning in Bampton 

 Church. For miles around, the farmers, with their wives and 

 daughters, nocked to the scene, to witness the marriage of their 

 favourite (whom they still persisted in calling "the young 

 squire ") and his sister ; and when the two couples issued from 

 the sacred portals, amid a peal of bells pulled by right vigorous 

 arms, a line was formed by the congregation from the porch to 

 the churchyard gate ; and one long, loud cheer burst forth, as 

 they passed along, from all assembled. 



A grand breakfast was prepared at Bampton, to which all 

 the neighbouring gentry had been invited, to conclude with a 

 farmers' ball in the evening; at which some of the higher 

 orders wished to be present also. Neither were the poor for- 

 gotten — tents being erected on the lawn for the whole popula- 

 tion of Bampton parish, with the substantial fare of roast beef 

 and plum pudding, supplied by the two principal innkeepers of 

 the village, to which they sat down at two o'clock. Rustic 

 games and pastimes succeeded, with dancing on the green sward 

 in the evening. 



The newly-married couples, having changed their bridal attire 

 for travelling costume, drove off immediately afterwards en route 

 to the North ; Lord Beauchamp and Blanche for Annandale 

 Castle, and Malcolm and Constance for his seat in Scotland. 

 The bitterness of parting with his only daughter was considerably 

 mollified to the old earl by the promise of their returning at 

 the end of a month or six weeks to spend the winter at Bamp- 

 ton ; and Mrs. Gordon felt too happy in the attainment of all 

 her wishes, to think so deeply as she otherwise would of the 

 temporary separation from her affectionate niece and newly- 



