A "little stratagem." 119 



** If Mrs. Harcourt will not be angry at my dancing twice 

 with WilUam." 



" You are no longer a child," replied Malcolm, " to be tied 

 to Mrs. Harcourt's apron-strings, and have a right now to 

 please yourself; but what says Aunt Gordon, whose ideas on 

 such subjects are quite as correct as Mrs. Harcourt's ? " 



" I see no impropriety in such arrangement if Blanche has 

 no other objection." 



" None whatever, dear aunt ; and I shall be delighted to 

 join Charles and Constance in the last dance of the evening." 



" Thank you, dear Blanche," whispered Beauchamp, " and 

 now we must take our places." 



Many scrutinising and invidious glances were directed to- 

 wards the heiress and her partner as they glided gracefully 

 through the figure, too much pleased in each other's company 

 to bestow a thouglit or care for the lookers-on. Lord Yancourt 

 remarked to Yernon — " You have underrated him." 



" Not much, I think," was the reply. 



" Decidedly, Yernon, he is very gentlemanly in manners, 

 good-looking, and altogether the sort of man any young girl 

 would fall desperately in love with ; in short, I must be quick ; 

 and even nov/, from v/hat I see, my impression is that I am too 

 late in the field." 



" You have two to one on your side, my lord, and Beau- 

 champ has no more chance than I have." 



" He has a bold, determined look," replied Yancourt, "just 

 that of a man who will not stick at trifles when he has a point 

 to gain." 



*' That girl won't run away with any man," said Yernon, 

 " although she may be carried away. Do you take, my lord ] 

 and with the consent of her guardian, which is the same thing, 

 supposing the young lady rather coy to yourself, I should not 

 hesitate one moment." 



" That is a very serious affair, Yernon." 



" Not in your case, my lord. Make your proposal first to 

 her guardian — if accepted, you are all right ; and I am quite 

 sure they will both press your offer upon their ward, for fear of 

 Beauchamp. This, of course, you ^vill find out from v/liat Har- 

 court says in reply to your proposal ; and if she refuses you can 

 fairly plead their consent, and your deep, passionate, uncontroll- 

 able love for the young lady, which induced you to have recourse 

 to a little stratagem. That's all, my lord, and you v>^.ili never 

 hear another word on the subject after the heiress has become 



