Blanche's surprise. 409 



" Only think," she observed to her husband, " of Mrs. Gordon 

 imposing upon that silly old man, and playing her cards so 

 cleverly as to become a Countess ? What extraordinary tact 

 some widows have in match-making for themselves as well as 

 others." 



" Well, my dear, I do not blame her for making so good a 

 bargain, although I have long suspected this event would take 

 place sooner or later ; and, in my opinion, the Earl has made a 

 most judicious selection." 



" Oh, yes, of course," retorted the lady; " the Bampton squire 

 can do no wrong since his elevation to the peerage." 



Mrs. Gordon had immediately, on accepting the Earl, written 

 to apprise Blanche of her contemplated change of name, and on 

 reading her aunt's letter, she exclaimed, " Oh, William ! what 

 do you think has occurred during our short absence from 

 home 3 " 



"Something, my darling, of a joyous nature, I can gather 

 from your sparkling eyes. Perhaps Bob is married ? " 



"No, not yet." 



" The widow has accepted Fred ? " 



" No, dear William ; guess again." 



" Then the governor has popped the question to aunty ? " 



" Oh, William," she said, demurely, " how could you fancy 

 such a thing 1 " 



" Because, my love, I have fancied it for some five or six 

 months past, and was quite convinced it must soon happen." 



" You were a true prophet, Master Will. Dear aunty will 

 soon be in name what she has ever been in love and affection 

 to us both — a mother." 



" My own dear girl," said Beauchamp, catching her in his 

 arms, " this is indeed delightful intelligence ; for I often think 

 with pain how melancholy my dear father must feel without 

 his children, and we cannot now be always with him." 



" And why can we not, dear William ? " 



" Because, my love, he thinks we ought to spend a certain 

 portion of the year at the Castle, and he is too wedded to 

 Bampton ever to leave it." 



" Indeed," she said, " this is a very delightful place, but I 

 confess my feelings, like his, are influenced by earlier and 

 dearer associations; Bampton and Beauchamp are both hal- 

 lowed names to me." 



" Ah ! you naughty child, since you have become Lady 

 Beauchamp ; but now, Blanche, seriously, we must proceed on 

 our journey to visit your Scotch dominions, where I intend 



