306 THE MASTER OP THE HOUNDI. 



" I was never more so, Charles." 



" Tlien why has he never confided this to me 1 ** 



^' Because he has seen lately that you rejected his con- 

 fidence." 



Malcolm paced up and down the room in violent agitation, 

 exclaiming, " What a fool ! what a madman I have been ! " 



" Pray, Charles," said Constance, placing her hand on his 

 arm, " pray, do not agitate yourself thus j all will be explained, 

 I hope, to-morrow." 



" Yes, my dear girl, indeed it shall ; for I feel now how 

 deeply I have wronged your brother, or he had never withheld 

 his confidence from me ; and you, Constance, you have known 

 this secret 1 " 



" Yes, Charles, on the condition I did not divulge it even 

 to you." 



" And Blanche, too «" 



" Of course, Charles." 



*' To three women has Beauchamp, then, entrusted its keep- 

 ing, but not to me ! " 



"And it has ceased, therefore," rejoined Mrs. Gordon, "to 

 be a wonder, that a woman can keep a secret ! " 



" Yet I have kept one secret inviolably ! " added Malcolm. 



" Yes, Charles, you have ; although poor Blanche has often 

 trembled when its disclosure appeared liovering on your lips." 



" My folly and thoughtlessness have been sufficiently 

 punished now, dear aunt, to forbid a repetition of that badi- 

 nage which has caused terror to my cousin, and misery of heart 

 to my friend. Will you forgive me, dear Blanche, for the 

 anxiety I have so thoughtlessly caused you 1 " 



" Indeed I do, dear Charles," taking his profferred hand, 

 " with all my heart." 



" Thank you, my dear girl ; it shall never be repeated ; and 

 can you forgive me also my unjust, unpardonable conduct to 

 that noble-minded, generous fellow, who, of all men I have 

 ever yet knovrn, is alone deserving of your love ? " 



" Willingly, most willingly, dear Charles, do I forgive all 

 that needs forgiveness from me ! " 



" And now, dear Aunt Gordon, I thank you most heartily 

 for removing the veil from my eyes, and showing me the many 

 faults I possess." 



" Not many, Charles, I am happy to say ; only learn hence- 

 forth to respect the feelings and opinions of others, if you wish 

 them to respect yours." 



