CONFESSION COOD FOR THE SOUL. 147 



go with me to your room, where Malcolm is preparing every- 

 thing for your comfort, with a large basin of gruel, which he 

 declares none but a Scotchman can make." 



" Oh, very well," cried Mr. Beauchamp, gaily,; "then you 

 are going to desert me entirely, I conclude ? " 



" Only for a short time, as Charles will join you directly, 

 who declares he is as ravenous as one of his own mountain 

 eagles. Now, children," continued Mrs. Gordon, as she led 

 Beauchamp out of the room ; " kiss your father, Constance, 

 and follow me." In a moment she was in her father's fu^ms', 

 and when released from his embrace, Blanche held oui her 

 hand to wish him good night. " No, dear child ; that wil not 

 do now — come to my heart. I have found another daug i jter, 

 and you a father, if you can love me as such." 



" Oh, indeed I will," she replied. 



" God bless you, my own dear Blanche," murmured the old 

 squire, as he pressed her in his arms, and kissed her agsji and 

 again. " There, child, now run away ; you and Will ha^v 3 made 

 a woman of me to-night." 



On the landing-place, Beauchamp waited to wish } is sister 

 good-night, where he was left a few minutes by Mrs. 9o^<ic)n ; 

 and having pressed her to his breast in a warm embrace, 

 Blanche tripped up the stairs, and was in his arms before she 

 was aware of the act, when, hastily impressing a kiss upon her 

 lips, he whisj)ered, " God bless you, my dearest treasure j I 

 ghall now rest the happiest of the happy." 



" William," cried Mrs. Gordon, from the end of the gallery, 

 "why don't you come to your room ?" 



"Coming dix^ectly, dear aunt;" with which he turned away. 



CHAPTER XV. 



The next morning Mr. Morgan paid an early visit to his two 

 patients, whom he found progressing as favourably as he could 

 expect, although the watcher could not be considered out of 

 danger for some few days. " Do you think, doctor, I shall ever 

 get over it 1 " asked the sufferer. 



"I hope so," replied Morgan, "although there's no saying 

 how it may turn ; but keep a good heart, and make a clean 

 breast from last night's work and all your other transgression 3. 



J 2 



