314 THE MASTER OP THE HOUNDS. 



anent country friends and country affairs, when Malcolm rising, 

 said, " Well, Fred, you dine with us this evening, as a matter 

 of course, and we go to Almack's afterwards, when I will intro- 

 duce you to the widow." 



" I hardly know what to say to that proposition, and don't 

 think I can sport brass enough for such an august assembly.'* 



" Pooh, pooh, Fred ! you have brass enough for anything 

 — faint heart, you know, won't do in these cases." 



Constance here interposed, saying, if he would accompany 

 them, Blanche would accept him as her first partner. 



" Well, Con, that of course decides the matter." 



" And if not wilfully disposed to turn restive," she added, 

 " we will enlist you in our service for the whole of the day, as I 

 have a hundred little things to talk about before the dinner 

 hour." 



" I am quite at your service, my fair cousin," replied Fred *, 

 *'so do with me as you please." 



" Well, then, we will take a drive after luncheon, in Aunt 

 Gordon's carriage, as I know your dislike to drawing-room 

 work, and show you the belles in the park on our return." 



Malcolm, having an engagement, soon after left the ladies 

 and Fred to get through their time until the carriage came to 

 the door. Various conjectures were hazarded on Fred Beau- 

 champ's appearance in Mrs. Gordon's carriage, by the noble 

 Marquis, until he encountered Captain Markham, who at once 

 solved the mystery. " What ! another bumpkin of the Beau- 

 champ family, Markham ? " 



" Eh ! 'pon honour, Ayrshire, you don't fancy the name 

 much ; but, my fine fellow, take care Fred don't hear you call 

 him a bumpkin, or " 



"What, Markliam?" 



" You'll have to attend a little meeting somewhere in the 

 country pretty soon." 



The Marquis turning away muttered, "Ah, another fool in 

 my path, I suppose." 



On Fred's standing up at Almack's in the first quadrille 

 that night with Blanche Douglas, he had to undergo the ordeal 

 of a first appearance in public or fashionable Hfe, which not 

 altogether relishing, he remarked to his partner : " Some of those 

 dowagers will know me again, I conclude, although my Lord 

 Danby gave me the cut direct just now. By Jove ! if I meet 

 him again in the hunting field he shall have cause to remember 

 me to the last hour of his life." 



