296 THE MASTER OP THE HOUNDS. 



CHAPTER XXXY. 



We raust now pass over a montli. Blanche and Constance had 

 been presented; both being much admired — but the former, 

 from her superiority of height, brilliant, sparkling eyes, com- 

 bined with her faultless form and graceful demeanour, attracted 

 very general attention, to which the fact of her being an heiress, 

 and Lady Malcolm's niece, gave additional charms. And after 

 her inauguration at Almack's, she was unhesitatingly pronounced 

 by the cognoscenti in female beauty, such as Lord Ayrshire, 

 Danby, and others, the belle of the season. 



Beauchamp witnessed with secret alarm the increasing 

 number of Blanche's admirers and the adulation j^aid her, 

 which he was powerless to avert, although his influence was 

 still unsparingly exerted on every fitting occasion, to counteract 

 the effects of the poison continually poured into her ears. To 

 his quick, observant eye (and what perception is more acute 

 than a lover's ?) her repugnance to flattery began to yield, first 

 to its endurance, and then to a more qualified reception of its 

 pestilential breathings. Vanity is, without doubt, one of the 

 chief compounds of human nature, by which all, even the very 

 best of mankind, are influenced, although almost imperceptibly 

 to themselves ; and it would be absurd to say that Blanche 

 Douglas did not feel pleased, perhaps rather elated, by the 

 homage paid to her charms, although too pure in mind and 

 innocent in heart to throw out the least lure by words or 

 actions to attract it. There is an excitement in dissipation 

 which drags its youthful votaries, first reluctantly, perhaps, 

 then almost irresistibly, along its slippery path, until they 

 become so thoroughly entangled in its mazes, as to be incapable 

 of extricating themselves. 



The London season was now in the zenith of its splendour, 

 and invitations continued pouring in to Lady Malcolm in such 

 rapid succession, that even her ladyship, though long inured 

 and case-hardened to dissipation, began to feel wearied with its 

 constant repetition. New additions had been made to her 

 already extended list of acquaintances at the instigation of 

 Blanche's admirers, many of whom, moving in the highest 

 circles, had induced their mammas to send cards of invitation 

 to Lady Malcolm and Miss Douglas. Amongst others, the 

 Duchess of Castleton invited them to a grand ball, in which 

 Malcolm and Constance were included j but Beauchamp, al- 



