64 THE MASTEK Of THE HOUNDS. 



" Have I oJQfended you, dear Blanche 1 " inquired Bea 

 cliamp, gently taking her hand, as she was turning away. 

 " Will you forgive this little escapade? Not for worlds would I 

 offer a word to you, which might prove displeasing or pre- 

 suming. The heliotrope shall be discarded, and my words 

 recalled, if you desire it." 



" Indeed, I am not offended, William," she replied. 



" Then give me your hand, dear Blanche ; we must find the 

 heliotrope another meaning for Aunt Gordon. Constancy, 

 that will do much better — and here she comes, Constance 

 herself, tripping across the la^^^l." 



" What are you all about ] " she inquired, kissing Blanche, 

 and running to Mrs. Gordon to confer on her the same favour. 



" Guessing the language of flowers, and you are just in time 

 to exhibit in person the last emblem of the heliotrope," added 

 Beauchamp, "which, I have told Blanche, means constancy, 

 Constance Beauchamp." 



" Oh, that is what you have been whispering about, is it, 

 Mr. William 1 I thought there must be something very inte- 

 resting to you both." 



" Well, aunt, the secret is out at last, you see, and now we 

 will finish the bed, if possible, before luncheon," with which he 

 set to work at once with the line and pegs to mark out the 

 figure ; Constance, with Blanche, running off to the conserva- 

 tory for the other patterns. 



"Well," said Constance, looking through the book; "there 

 is nothing very new here, so I will suggest another device to stand 

 opposite to Blanche Douglas — C. B., Constance Beauchamp." 



"Oh, that will be quite charming, and, I think, a better 

 pattern than mine," replied Blanche. 



" No, dear girl, I cannot stand in comparison with you in a 

 garden or a ball-room, but am content to occupy a less promi- 

 nent position ; in love and affection do I only claim to be your 

 equal. And now you shall select the flowers to fill my beds, as 

 William did for yours." 



In these innocent recreations and amusements, the day 

 passed rapidly away, until nearly four o'clock, when Bob 

 Conyers appeared on the scene, and highly applauded the 

 patterns which had been cut out by the gardener on the lawn. 

 " But these two," he said, " the inventions of William and 

 Constance, please me more than anything I have yet seen in 

 the shape of flower beds, and, with the emblems selected for 

 them, are quite perfection." 



