AS INTRODUCTION. 245 



chievous puppies make the best hounds. So, by your own argu- 

 ment, Selina will make a good wife, when she is entered for 

 matrimony." 



Leaving the gentlemen to discuss their wine and politics, we 

 will now turn our attention to the ladies. 



CHAPTER XXYIIL 



To make amends for Selina' s rudeness to Mrs. Winterbottom, 

 Constance deemed it incumbent on her to smooth that lady's 

 ruffled feathers by introducing her to Mrs. Gordon and Blanche ; 

 and she so far succeeded in restoring her to a more complacent 

 state of mind, when, other company beginning to arrive, her at- 

 tentions were required elsewhere. Miss Honori a Winterbottom, 

 in addition to very pretty, intelligent features, was highly ac- 

 complished also, and presented so striking a contrast to her 

 mamma, that few could believe her to be descended from a stock 

 so plebeian ; and both Mrs. Gordon and Blanche were much 

 pleased with her unassuming manners, which, in a great mea- 

 sure, compensated for her mother's great deficiency in those 

 essentials. 



As Beauchamp entered the ball-room, his eyes beamed with 

 delight on beholding Blanche Douglas seated by the side of the 

 young stranger, whom he believed she was patronising on his 

 account ; and he was advancing towards her, when Captain 

 Markham arrested his progress for a moment. 



"Beauchamp, my good fellow, just introduce me to that 

 girl. Miss Winter, will you. Oh ! demmit, what a name ! eh ! 

 ah ! unpronounceable ; but, *pon honour, she is a devilish fine 

 girl, notwithstanding that she-dragon of a mother ; they say, 

 lots of tin into the bargain." 



" Come on then, Markham." And in a few seconds the life- 

 guardsman, having made his bow, was parading Miss Honoria 

 round the room, in defiance of the sneers and jesting remarks 

 of his sister, Selina. 



On accepting his profiered arm, Beauchamp thanked Blanche 

 for her kind attention to the nameless young lady. 



"This I consider, dear girl, as a personal favour to my 

 lather and myself, after Selina's rude behaviour, at dinner, to 

 her mother." 



