A PROPOSAL AKD ITS RECEPTION. 127 



" A proposal for your hand, dear girl — tliat is my impres- 

 fiion." 



" Oh, Charles," exclaimed the poor girl, almost in tears, and 

 turning deadly pale, " what can I say ? " 



" Say ! my dear Blanche, what you think you ought to say." 



" Oh, indeed, Charles ! I never could accept such a man." 



"Heaven forbid you should," returned IMalcolm, "for by all 

 accounts, a worse character does not exist. Refuse him, my 

 dear girl, point blank — no evasions or after considerations — 

 and don't listen a moment to Mrs. Ilarcourt's persuasions. 

 You don't like him, and won't many him ; stick to that, and 

 mind, I will stick to you through thick and thin." 



At this moment a servant entered, saying Mrs. Harcourt 

 wished to see Miss Douglas in her morning-room. 



" Very well," replied Malcolm, " she will be there directly. 

 Now Blauche," said he, pouring out a glass of wine, " drink 

 that, my dear girl, to keep up your courage ; and recollect I 

 shall be listening to hear what you say ; be firm and decided, 

 and we will take a walk together afterwards." 



Poor Blanche, dreading a lecture as well as a proposal, 

 entered her aunt's room, trembling with apprehension, and 

 being offered a chair, was obliged to listen to the contents of 

 Lord Yancourt's letter, with many comments thereon from 

 Mrs. Harcourt. 



" And now, my dear child,'* continued her aunt, most afiisc- 

 tionately, "you will, of course, not decline such an unexception- 

 able offer. Lord Yancourt is so handsome, so agreeable, and 

 talented in addition to his rank, that you really ought to feel 

 highly flattered by the preference he has shown you, inde- 

 pendent of his professions of deep attachment to yourself, which 

 I am sure, from his manner, he must feel." 



"Indeed, aunt," replied Blanche timidly, "I cannot accept 

 him." 



" Not accept him, Blanche 1 and why not ? " she inquired, 

 in well-feigned astonishment. 



" Because [ cannot love, or even respect him, aunt ; his very 

 looks frighten me." 



" ^Yhat nonsense, child ! you are so timid ; but all that will 

 pass away when you have known him longer." 



" I do not wish to marry yet, aunt, and never can accept 

 Lord Yancourt;" and, notwithstanding all her aunt's entreaties, 

 remonstrances, and even menaces of her displeasure, Blanche, 

 emboldened by a slight cough at the door, adhered firmly to her 



