WHERE IS BEAUCHAMP? 283 



suppressed, Malcolm, even in the presence of royally. But as 

 to my attempting to interfere with Lady Malcolm's recreations, 

 or obtrude my convictions upon her ladyship, that would be the 

 height of presumption." 



" Come, Beauchamp, a truce to further parley on this un- 

 pleasant topic ; I see the carriage approaching, and it is our 

 turn now to take the places of Ayrshire and Bayntun." 



"Excuse me, Malcolm, from attempting to obtrude myself 

 into the place of one who appears to have Lady Malcolm's 

 sanction for so pertinaciously adhering to her carriage ; and, as 

 I have letters to write, I will leave your horse at the stables j " 

 with which Beauchamp turned short round and left him. 



CHAPTER XXXIIL 



The dinner hour had nearly arrived, and Mrs. Gordon, Malcolm^ 

 Blanche, and Constance were dressed, and sitting in the draw- 

 ing-room, when the former exclaimed, " What has become of 

 William, Charles? he dines here to-day, I conclude, and ia 

 always very punctual." 



" Perhaps my mother omitted to give him a special invita- 

 tion for this evening," replied Malcolm. 



"Nonsense, Charles; he would not stand upon such cere- 

 mony." 



" Then, I fear, you will not see him to-night at all, aunt, as 

 I happened, when speaking to him, in our ride to-day, about 

 his so continually lecturing Blanche, which I don't approve of, 

 now she is under my mother's roof and launched on the gay 

 world of fashion, to let fall the word hectoring, at which he 

 immediately took fire." 



" It was a harsh term, Charles, and not, in my opinion, at all 

 a[)plicable to William Beauchamp's friendly advice to Blanche, 

 which is the reverse of dictatorial ; but has he ever ventured 

 to accuse you of hectoring it, as you say, over Constance ? " 



" No, aunt, certainly not ; nor has he ever in any way inter- 

 fered with me, although I think Constance will acquit me of 

 pestering her with unnecessary advice, or imposing restrictions 

 upon her time or actions." 



" Still, Charles," said Constance, " you have your own pecu- 

 liar fancies about some things, as well as my brother." 



