AN ILL-ASSORTED DINNER-PARTT. Ill 



some time with the ladies, the two friends sauntered out, at 

 Malcolm's request, to see a new horse he had lately purchased. 

 From the stables they took a stroll through the grounds, when 

 Lord Malcolm told Beauchamp what had passed between him- 

 self and Mr. Harcourt, and his discovery of Blanche's love for 

 him. " And now, my dear fellow, I congratulate you with all 

 my heart ; and it has made me one of the happiest of men to 

 know that Blanche has bestowed her affections on him whom I 

 would have selected from all the world to be her husband." 



" But, my dear Malcolm," Beauchamp was beginning, when 

 he was cut short by his friend. 



" Not another word, Beauchamp. I know you and Blanche 

 thoroughly, and your deep strong feelings ; you are both alike. 

 Therefore, I insist on your proj)Osing to her, allowing a little 

 scope for your romantic ideas of giving her a few months for 

 consideration j but if at the end of that time you don't marry 

 her — not supposing an impossibihty, that she will ever change, 

 though you may — I give you fair notice, old fellow, that I will 

 call you out, and shoot you, too, if I can, for breaking my dear 

 cousin's heart. That is the result of my cogitations on this 

 subject. Will Beauchamp, since we last parted at Bampton; 

 and this is my advice, which, for both our happiness, I trust 

 and believe you will adopt. Now let us return to the ladies, 

 or old Harcourt will think we are plotting some mischief; but 

 had I no other reason for wishing you to marry her, Blanche 

 Douglas shall never be sold, like a sheep in the shambles, to the 

 highest bidder, by that worldly-minded pair, under whose roof 

 she has the misfortune to be living. Lucky, indeed, is it that 

 I happened to arrive just at this critical moment, when poor 

 Blanche's happiness might have been wrecked for ever ; withal, 

 she is but a timid child, and requii'es a steady friend and 

 strong arm to protect her, such as she ought to find in Will 

 Beauchamp." 



" That she shall never want, whilst I live," he replied. 



" Thank you, Beauchamp ; you now speak like yourself 

 manly and straightforward ; but no more at present, walls have 

 ears — and laurels too," as they approached the house. 



A more heterogeneous party never met together than that 

 selected by the Harcourts to grace their dinner-table that 

 evening. Sir Lionel Markham differed on every subject with 

 Lord Mervyn. Mr. Compton was decidedly as antagonistic tfl 

 him in politics, and hated by his lordship for shelving twice 

 the number of pheasants, with plenty of foxes also, and for 



