162 i:he piaster op i:he hounds. 



delicate viands having entii-ely vanislied. Ringing the bell, the 

 old butler appeared, when Beauchamp inquired if there was 

 any cold fowl or game left in the house, desiring him to bring 

 in also some fresh tea for the ladies. 



" I think, sir," said the old man, " we can find something 

 the ladies would like quite as well as cold fowl, if they can wait 

 a short time." Accordingly, in about twenty minutes the butler 

 reappeared, with a brace of grilled partridges, sj^lit down the 

 back, and a few small cakes of a pecuhar sausage prepared at 

 Bampton House. 



"There, aunt," said Beauchamp, "is a sportsman's break- 

 fast for you and Blanche, to which I hope you will do justice." 



" E-eally, WiUiam, it looks very inviting, and I never saw 

 game sent up to table in that fashion before." 



"It is one of our old fashions, aunt, and a much quicker 

 way of di'essing game or poultry than roasting, and in my 

 opinion the flavour is far superior." 



The merits of the dish were tested, and approved of by 

 both the ladies, who pronounced it a decided improvement over 

 the usual mode of cooking ; and after breakfast, Mrs. Gordon 

 having left the room for a few moments, Beauchamp, taking 

 Blanche's hand, said, " I think, dear girl, after what has passed 

 between us, it is a duty I owe our true, kind friend, Aunt Gor- 

 don, to make her acquainted with our mutual love, and ask her 

 approval of my addresses (I will not now say engagement) to 

 her dearly-prized niece." 



" Yes, dear William," replied Blanche, blushing, and with 

 her hand trembling in his j " I wish no concealments from my 

 affectionate aunt, and have felt rather uncomfortable some- 

 times in her presence since we last parted, because I feared you 

 might not approve my telling her." 



*' Thank you, my own dear love," replied Beauchamp, rais- 

 ing her hand to his lips ; " but, dear, dear Blanche, how you 

 tremble. Love me ! oh, still love me as a brother, if you fear 

 me as a lover!" 



" I do not fear you, dear William," raising her eyes timidly 

 to his, " but I have become so nervous lately, you must not 

 regard it." 



Her hand was still retained in his as Mrs. Gordon returned 

 to the room, when Beauchamp turning to her, said — "Dear 

 aunt, I have been bold enough to confess my long ardent 

 attachment to deax* Blanche, which only wants your approval 

 to make me the most envied as well as the most happy of men. 



