326 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



"Well, George, on my own account, as well as on yours, not 

 a word shall escape my lips ; but Lord Malcolm and his mother, 

 how will 3^ou manage with them ? " 



" Oh, very well ; INIalcolm and I are old friends." 



" And the young lady herself 1 " 



" With her, I am quite safe ; she has too much good sense 

 and proper feeling ever to utter a word derogatory to any 

 person, and notwithstanding my rejection, I must always esteem 

 her." 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 



When Blanche returned from her ride, Lady Malcolm told her 

 of Mr. Harcourt's visit, and the answer she had given him. 



" Have I done right, my love, in peremptorily refusing the 

 Marquis 1 " 



" Oh, yes, dear Aunt Malcolm, I am so much obliged by your 

 great kindness in saving me from a scene with Mr. and Mrs. 

 Harcourt ; but I am surprised at Lord Ayrshire addressing 

 them on such a subject, after I have so frequently checked 

 every advance he has made to a more intimate acquaintance. 

 Indeed, the night of Mrs. Harcourt's ball, when making some 

 allusion to my friends, I gave him distinctly to understand, in 

 very plain language, that the Marquis of Ayrshire had never 

 been considered by me one of that number." 



" Well, my dear, you acted quite right in undeceiving him, 

 and if he was wilfully blind, you cannot be blamed for leading 

 him astray." 



On the third evening after this communication, as they 

 were all sitting together, with the dessert on the table, the 

 butler entered the room, saying, " There is a man, my lord, in 

 the hall, with a parcel, which he will not deliver to any one but 

 your lordship." 



" What the deuce does the fellow mean 1 " exclaimed Mal- 

 colm, springing up from his chair. 



" I think he said, my lord, he was the guard of the Northern 

 mail." 



" Show him in here, then," 



The man, entering with a low bow, said, "I am intrusted 

 with a parcel to deliver only into the hands of Lord Malcolm, 

 frpn Annandale Castle, who is to pay me a sovereign, and send 



