146 THE MASTER Of THE HOUNDS. 



Mrs. Gordon, took lier hand in his, which he held for some 

 time, but all utterance failed him. 



" I can't thank you now," he at last said, as the tears still 

 rolled down his cheek; "and poor Blanche !" whose hand he 

 next seized, "thank Heaven ! you are saved, dear child, from a 

 fate worse than death ! " 



"Oh, 'Mr. Beauchamp," she sobLed ; "I am the wi'etched 

 cause of all your grief What would I not give to save William 

 one moment's pain ? " 



" Would you give this, dear girl 1 " he whispered, in a low 

 tone, pressing ber hand in his, " to make my poor boy happy V 



" Yes," she said, softly, and blushing deeply ; " all I possess 

 in the world." 



" The wound in his side," said Mr. Beauchamp, " will, I 

 trust, yield to the doctor's skill ; but he has another, I suspect, 

 which only this little hand can heal. Come with me, then, my 

 own dear child, and be Will's comforter." 



Saying which, he led her to the sofa ; and, placing her hand 

 in that of his son, said, in a whisper — 



" There, Will ; that will heal all your wounds ; and may 

 the Almighty bless you both." 



" Oh, Blanche," murmured Beauchamp, as he pressed her 

 hand to his lips, " how far beyond all my fondest hopes is this 

 reward ! but, dearest, I must not claim it now, when you are 

 overpowered with gratitude." 



"Will you refuse, then," she said, softly, "to make me 

 happy?" 



"!N"o, no, my own dearest girl; not if love only prompts 

 you to bestow this unlooked-for blessing on me. Is it so, dear 

 Blanche?" 



" Yes," was the faint response. 



" Then am I blessed indeed," replied Beauchamp ; " and 

 now, dearest, you have been so excited to-night, I hope you 

 will retire to your room with Constance. I shall quickly 

 follow your example, as I know Aunt Gordon is gone to order 

 beds for us." 



During this scene, Mrs. Gordon and Malcolm had silently 

 left the apartment, leaving Mr. Beauchamp and Constance only 

 with the two lovers. The former now appeared, saying, " 1 

 have ordered a double-bedded room,' Mr. Beauchamp, for you 

 and William, as I knew you would not like to leave him to- 

 night ; and the tray to be brought in directly, with something 

 more substantial than tea. And now, dear William, you must 



