^4.4 THE MASTER OF THE HOXJNDS. 



a "Winterbottom — half hot, half cold — or a mermaid in petti* 

 coats." 



Gwynne, fearing some violent explosion between the now in- 

 furiated fair ones, addressed some observation to the excited 

 dame near him, which checked further retorts ; and good order 

 once more prevailed, to the great delight of the more staid por- 

 tion of the company, who began to feel very uncomfortable as 

 to the issue of this combat of words between the two female 

 belligerents. 



Beauchamp whispered to Blanche — " I suspect Bob will 

 have his hands over-full, should he prevail on Selina to become 

 Mrs. Conyers — poor fellow ! he will be ever in hot water, with 

 her cutting speeches ; the * Taming of the Shrew ' is nothing in 

 comparison with the work he will have to perform in reducing 

 Selina to anything like orderly conduct." 



" She is really very provoking sometimes," replied Blanche ; 

 ** and says such extraordinary things, that strangers must think 

 her a most eccentric person, and very ill-natured; but what 

 W^ould you do, William, with such a wife 1 " 



" I should very soon do without her, Blanche, if by any 

 fatality such a lot could be Assigned me." 



" You would not feel jealous of her, William, would you 1 " 

 ehe inquired, with an arch smile, 



" No, my dear ; I never could love her sufficiently for that 

 feeling to arise." 



"Well, then, I think, Mr. Will, I shall attempt to say 

 •mart, sharp things like Selina, to keep flatterers at a distance." 



" Reserve and dignity of manners are sufficient repellents, 

 my dear girl, without sarcasm or invective, to which I am quite 

 sure my own dear Blanche, from her naturally gentle disposi- 

 tion, will never have recourse." 



" My dear William, joii think me a great deal more perfect 

 than I am ; but I must try to keep up to your standard. And 

 now, as Constance is rising, don't sit too long over your wine^ 

 or (in a whisper) get tipsy, mio caro" 



When the ladies left the room. Sir Lionel rebuked Bob Con- 

 yers for not keeping his daughter in better order duriug dinner. 



" Ay, ay. Sir Lionel," retorted Bob, " very pretty, indeed, to 

 lecture me about keeping her in order, after you have been 

 allowing her to run riot all her life at Barton Court ; and now, 

 finding her incorrigible, you expect I am to pull her up all at 

 once, like a confirmed runaway horse." 



"Well, Conyers, you will always have it that the most mien 



