158 THE MAStEB OP THE HOUNDiS. 



like old Trooper when he had the staggers.' Sure enough I 

 did stagger more than walk into the house, and swallowing 

 a wine-glass of brandy, rode full split for the Priory, Missus 

 and the servants thinking I were gone clean out of my mind ; 

 but at the turn of the lane I nearly unhorsed the doctor, 

 who told me all about it. ' What ails thee, Stiles ? ' shouted 

 the doctor, 'hurrahing and waving thy hat, and frightening 

 my horse into the ditch ; drunk or crazy ? ' — * Neither, doctor,* 

 says I, 'but overjoyed at hearing that the young squire ain't 

 killed.' " 



The news had by this time spread all over the county, 

 being reported in tlie two opposite papers according to the 

 editor's political opinions. The heading in the Tory journal 

 standing thus, " Daring outrage and attempted abduction of 

 Miss Douglas ! " which was modified by the iiadical organ into, 



*' Failure of a runaway match between Lord Y 1 and Miss 



D s," with comments thereon, insinuating that the young 



lady had been foiled in her attempted and willing flight with 

 her noble and highly gifted lover by the intervention of some 

 meddling friends. 



Lord Malcolm, on reading the latter paragraph, wrote 

 immediately to the editor, giving him a true statement of the 

 case, and insisting on an immediate contradiction of the untrue 

 and ofiensive article, which, under the threat of an action for 

 libel, v/as repudiated as emanating from an anonymous corre- 

 spondent. 



The concourse of horse and footmen drawn to2;ether at 

 Bampton on this occasion far exceeded any former gathering — 

 numbers flocking there from curiosity only, to know the true 

 facts of the case ; and every sportsman in the neighbourhood 

 deeming it an act of imperative coui'tesy to father and son oik 

 the fortunate termination of the afiair. A group of pedestrians 

 also assembled round Mark Rosier, who detailed the events of 

 ':hat night's adventure, extolling Beauchamp's courage to the 

 skies, telling them how he knocked the big lord twice off his 

 legs like a ninepin. 



Wliile Beauchamp was standing talking on the lawn to the 

 gentlemen and farmers, Mrs. Gordon's carriage drove up to the 

 door, with Blanche and Constance ; and no sooner did Farmer 

 Stiles recognise the heiress, than raising his hat high in the air, 

 he shouted from his stentorian lungs, " Now, gentlemen, three 

 cheers for Miss Douglas and her happy escape from that 

 t^illanous lord ! " All hats were off in a moment, and aa 



