112 fHE PIASTER Of THE HOUNBS. 



being most popular in the county. Sir Lucius Gwynne and 

 Mr. Yernon, whose dislike to each other was well known ; 

 and Aunt Gordon, who (from sundry hints given her by Bob 

 Conyers) felt disposed to quarrel with the whole castle party 

 at first starting. 



The only person who laboured assiduously, though hope- 

 lessly, to infuse some little harmony into this ill-assorted com- 

 pany, was Selina Markham, who sat next to Lord Malcolm. 

 Lord Vancourt was endeavouring to engross attention by a de- 

 scription of his travels in Egypt and the Holy Land, and had 

 been giving an account of the Pyramids, when Lord Malcolm, 

 turning to Selina, said, " Ah ! those Pyramids remind me of the 

 fate of a travelling companion who was standing with me on 

 the top of one, when, being seized with sudden giddiness, 

 he fell, and rolled from step to step, until he was dashed to 

 pieces." 



" How very shocking ! " exclaimed Selina ; " what could 

 you do ? " 



" Nothing ; he was gone in a moment, before I missed him 

 from my side ; and feeling myself turning sick and giddy also, as 

 I looked below, I threw myself down on my face, to prevent my 

 sharing his untimely and wretched fate." 



Lord Yancourt was silent whilst Malcolm related this acci- 

 dent, and did not afterwards deem it expedient to make many 

 more allusions to his own adventures, finding another had been 

 going over the same ground, who might probably catch him 

 tripping. 



All felt relieved when the ladies rose from the table to 

 leave the dining-room, but little more advancement towards 

 conviviality followed after their departure among the gentle- 

 men, who seemed resolved to keep at a respectful distance from 

 each other. 



Lord Yancourt made two or three unsuccessful attempts to 

 draw Malcolm into conversation, but his almost monosyllabic 

 answers deterred him from indulging further hopes of being on 

 good terms with his lordship, which he was most anxious to be, 

 as living under the same roof with Miss Douglas, his friend 

 Yernon having assured him there was no truth in the report 

 that he was engaged to, or ever likely to marry, his cousin. 



Sir Lionel and Mr. Compton, sitting together, were the only 

 two who had any community of feelings or ideas, and even 

 they were delighted when cofiee was introduced, and a move 

 made to joia the ladies. Lord Yancourt was resolved, if pos* 



