LORD AYRSHIRE S OPINION OF BEAUCHAMP. 291 



"I tbouglit you had been too agreeably entertained at 

 dinner, and since by others, to need my presence." 



" I may make the same reply, William, as to your flirtation 

 with Mrs. Fortescue, which others have noticed besides myself." 

 * You set the example, Blanche, and I suppose flirting is 

 infectious." 



" Indeed, I am not conscious of having done so, although I 

 did feel a little piqued by your gaiety." 



"Then, my dear girl, pray do not let us vex each other 

 again by such absurd fancies ; and now, as Coityers is here" — 

 who had followed them, and was talking to Malcolm — " I pro- 

 jDose we all have a quiet ride together to-morrow, somewhere in 

 the country, as I detest the heat and dust of the Park. What 

 say you, Malcolm ? " 



" Just the thing, Beauchamp, to cool our heated frames after 

 this baking ; " to which Conyers assented, and two o'clock being 

 fixed, Malcolm said, " Now, Constance, with your bad headache, 

 pray go to your room, or you will not be fit for anything to- 

 morrow, and I will tell my mother that I insisted on your 

 doing so." 



" I fear she will be ofiended, Charles." 



" Pooh ! nonsense, my dear girl ; run away, and take Blanche 

 with you, unless she prefers listening to Ayrshire's sweet voice a 

 little longer." 



" Not another second, Charles." 



" Then be ofi", both of you " — with which the two girls, after 

 an aifectionate "good night" from their lovers, made their 

 escape ; Conyers and Beauchamp taking their departure at the 

 same time to their hotel. 



Lord Ayrshire remarked to Danby, as Beauchamp walked 

 off with Blanche, " That Mr. Beauchamp is a monstrous cool 

 liand, Danby." 



" Yes, and a very determined one as well ; and you had 

 better be cautious how you contradict or stand in his way ; for 

 I know him well, and he will bear no trifling from any man. 

 When put on his mettle, it is a word and a blow with him — • 

 and the blow generally comes first." 



" Indeed ! but what is Miss Douglas to him ?" 



" That I cannot tell you, except that they have been brought 

 up together almost as brother and sister." 



" Oh, I remember now ! He is the fellow who knocked 

 Vancourt about so deucedly." 



" Yes, the same ; and he is quite ready to administer the 



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