266 THE MASTER OP THE HOTJ^T)S. 



side of the house, many of whom were personally kno"WTi to 

 Lady Malcolm. 



" Wlio can that be,'' inquired the Duchess of B of Lord 



Henry Bayntun, who had just entered her box, sitting with 

 Lady IMalcolm ? She appears very young, and very pretty, 

 although evidently new to London life, from her. bashful and 

 timid looks." 



" That is Miss Douglas, your grace. Lady Malcolm's niece, 

 who makes her first appearance to-night in the fashionable 

 world." 



"Oh, I remember now the name — the young lady whom 

 Lord Vancourt attempted to run away with." 



*' The same," replied Lord Henry, " and, by all accounts, 

 Vancourt made a very near thing of it." 



" Pray lend me your glass a moment," exclaimed Lady 

 Mary, the Duchess's eldest daughter (who had now entered on 

 her fifth London season), " I really must have a thorough scrutiny 

 of Danby's idol ; for no one, in his opinion, can be compared to 

 IMiss Douglas — and there, I declare, is that foolish boy just 

 entering their box." 



" Well, Lady Mary, what is your opinion 1 " asked Lord 

 Henry, " as I should think you must by this time have scanned 

 her features sufficiently to know her again." 



"Pretty, rather, though country-looking, with a super- 

 abundance of pink." 



" Occasioned, perhaps," suggested Lord Henry, " by Danby's 

 appearance ; but look again — there is not too much vermilion 

 now, or my vision is defective. She has fine eyes and handsome 

 features, certainly." 



"Oh — so, so," replied Lady Mary, rather contemptuously, 

 returning the glass to her mother ; " but Danby takes extra- 

 ordinary fancies into his head about women." 



Being ofiered a seat, Lord Danby remained some time in 

 Lady IMalcolm's box, conversing with the ladies, and occasionally 

 addressing observations on the opera to Blanche, which were 

 rather more courteously received than at their first meeting in 

 the park. In fact, Blanche, reproaching herself, on reflection, 

 for her very distant behaviour to him on that occasion, now 

 relaxed into a more friendly mood, seeing her rej^ulsion of him 

 then had been noticed by her aunt, whose looks were the 

 reverse of commendatory. 



Ineffectual efforts were made by other loungers, who occa- 

 sionally looked in, to obtain an introduction to the heiress ; but 



