THE HEIRESS AT THE BALL. 117 



the door. Telling the keeper to go on beating until his return, 

 he ran down the hill, and arrived in time to prevent the 

 eclaircissenient that Lord Vancoiirt purposed making to his 

 cousin. His annoyance at finding Blanche had been left alone 

 by Mrs. Harcourt did not tend to improve his ill-humour ; 

 and having politely declined Lord Mervyn's invitation, Lord 

 Vancourt rose and left the room, his horse and groom being at 

 the door. 



The evening of the ball had now arrived, and about ten 

 o'clock the heiress made her first appearance in public, leaning 

 on Mrs. Harcourt's arm, who stalked majestically into the ball- 

 room with the air of the highest personage in the land. 

 Blanche was dressed in white, with an elegance and simplicity 

 which did justice to her beauty as well as her taste ; and with 

 her graceful figure and sweet, artless expression of countenance, 

 looked the personification of loveliness. William Beauchamp, 

 having purposely arrived early, was waiting with Constance 

 near the door, and accosted them, on their entrance, with his 

 usual frankness of manner; and wliilst his sister was speaking 

 to Mrs. Harcourt, re-engaged Blanche for the first dance. 



Mrs. Harcourt, although overhearing her niece's assent to 

 Beauchamp's request, said she wished to take a survey of the 

 company before dancing commenced (for the purpose, secretly, 

 of parading her charge, and preventing, if possible, her accept- 

 ing Beauchamp's arm for the first quadrille) ; and with this 

 view, kept her talking to some acquaintances at the top of the 

 room until the sets were formed, notwithstanding Beauchamp's 

 hints that they must now take their places, to which Mrs. 

 Harcourt turned a deaf ear, and persisted in retaining a tight 

 hold of her niece's arm. 



" Aunt Harcourt," whispered the poor girl, timidly, " I am 

 engaged to Mr. Beauchamp for the first dance, and he is 

 waiting." 



" Oh, it does not signify, my dear j you can dance the second 

 with him, as I wish to introduce you to Lord and Lady Seaton, 

 who, I see, have just arrived." 



" But I am engaged to Charles for the second," whispered 

 Blanche. 



" Well, my dear, it cannot be helped, as I really must pre- 

 sent you to some of my particular friends fii'st ; there will be 

 ample time for dancing afterwards." 



Beauchamp, however, would not be thrown off by these 

 manoeuvres, and doggedly following Mrs. Harcourt, that lady, 



