292 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



same sort of dose to any other man wlio may treat her with the 

 slightest disrespect." 



" Egad, Danby, what with him and Malcolm, one must keep 

 at a respectful distance, I conclude, from the young lady." 



" Certainly, unless you wish to be thi'ashed first, and shot 

 afterwards." 



Lord Danby, having now, as he hoped, lowered Lord 

 Aryshire's top-gallant sails, left him to digest his remarks, 

 which he knew would not prove very palatable to his haughty 

 rival. 



At two o'clock the next day, when Blanche and Constance, 

 with Selina Markham, were waiting for their horses, a thunder- 

 ing knocking at the door was heard, on which Selina, who had 

 lunched with them, sprang to the window, exclaiming — 

 " By all that's funny, Mrs. Summertop, I declare ! " 

 " Mrs. Who ? " inquired Lady Malcolm ; but befcre an 

 answer could be returned, Mrs. and Miss "Winterbottom were 

 announced, to the consternation of all the ladies and the delight 

 of Malcolm, who whispered Constance — 



" My gracious ! Con, here she comes, sailing along like a 

 full-blown peony. Oh, poor mamma ! " 



Constance rose at once to meet her, for the purpose of 

 screening Lady Malcolm, who took the opportunity to escape 

 by another door, leaving her sister to receive these unwelcome 

 visitors. 



" Well, my dear," gasped Mrs. Winterbottom, puffing from 

 the exertion of mounting the stairs, " here we are at last, all in 

 a bustle, like a bag of fleas ; and how d'ye do, Mrs. Gordon and 

 Miss Douglas 1 " shaking each by the hand ; " and, my lord, 'ope 

 your lordship's quite well." 



" Charming, ma'am, thank you," replied Malcolm. 

 *• And her ladyship — your mamma ? " 



" Bather ailing, this morning, from an attack of hypo- 

 chondriasis." 



" Oh, indeed ! sorry to hear it, my lord — but never heard 

 of the complaint before." 



"It is chiefly confined, I believe," replied Malcolm, "to 

 persons in fashionable life." 



"But lauks, my dear," turning to Constance, "you and Miss 

 Douglas look uncommon peaky — hope you won't catch the same 

 disease." 



"Nothing more likely," added Malcolm; "1 suspect they 

 pure sickening with it akeady — or the scarlet fever." 



