84 THE MASTER OF rfHE HOUKDS. 



" Really, Miss Douglas, that is going a little too far, for, by 

 Gad, I feel very peckish to-night, and intend doing ample 

 justice to Compton's good things at one o'clock. But, demmit — 

 I beg pardon, Miss Douglas — our place is occupied as vis- a -vis to 

 that fallow Yernon and his partner, who promised to keep it 

 open. What shall we do ? — Gad ! I have it — ask that good- 

 tempered Beauchamp to find a partner, and then we can cut in 

 somewhere." 



This arrangement was soon made, much to Beauchamp's 

 delight, who had again an oj)portunity of holding that hand in 

 his, whose pressure told as much as words could explain. The 

 evening passed pleasantly away with a succession of dances, for 

 every one of which Miss Douglas had been speedily engaged on 

 her first entering the room, until the hour of supper, when Bob 

 Conyers handed her into the room ; and Beauchamp politely 

 ofiering his arm to Mrs. Harcoiirt, it was graciously accepted. 

 The friendly terms on which Beauchamp seemed to be with 

 that lady called forth the sarcastic sneers of Vernon, who sat 

 nearly opposite to them with one of the Miss RoUestons. 



" Ah ! " he said, " Beauchamp is trying to utter soft things 

 to the old lady aunt, as well as the heiress, to-night ; but the 

 quarry is too high game for his arrows to reach." 



" I think," remarked Miss Bolleston, " William Beauchamp 

 has much to recommend him, were he to think seriously of Miss 

 Douglas." 



" Nothing that I know of," replied Yernon, " except a good 

 voice with hounds and a tolerable seat on horseback, which any 

 groom might possess." 



"For shame, Mr. Yernon, to speak in such terms of one 

 who is so universally admitted to be a perfect gentleman in 

 manners and feelings ; but I know Miss Douglas was a great 

 favourite of yours once, and now, I suppose, the grapes are 

 sour." 



"The grapes are not to be plucked by plebeian hands," 

 retorted Yernon, " therefore could never fall to my gathering or 

 his, which that fool Beauchamp will soon find to his cost also." 



"Miss Douglas is free to choose whom she pleases, I 

 suppose," observed Miss Bolleston, " at least, when she comes of 

 age j and if she will take my advice, she will marry the man of 

 her own choice, not her guardian's." 



"A coronet studded with gems is a very pretty attractive 

 toy to a young, artless girl," said Yernon. 



" But not to a sensible one," added Miss Bolleston. 



