330 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



" I am content, my dear boy, for I see in your face candour 

 and kindness of disposition combined, and I will trust you 

 implicitly." 



" Thank you, my dear lord, for that confideuce, which shall 

 never be abused." 



"One wish still remains ungratified, William — can it be 

 realised ? " 



" If in my power, you have only to mention it." 



" I long to see your future bride, of whom Constance and 

 Mrs. Gordon have given me such a glowing description." 



"You shall see her, by God's permission, as soon as horses 

 can convey her to Annandale Castle ; and I am sure Lord 

 Malcolm will most willingly set out to London immediately for 

 that purpose." 



Malcolm, who enjoyed travelling, left by the mail that same 

 night, and returned the third evening with Blanche, who was 

 delighted to leave London, and join once more in the country 

 all those she loved. As the old Earl, holding her hand in his, 

 gazed on her lovely features and soft, beaming eyes, he exclaimed, 

 "Your friends, my dear, have not done you justice — even their 

 glowing description comes far short of the reality. Accept an 

 old man's best thanks for complying with his last earthly wish, 

 altliough it was not from mere curiosity alone I desired to see 

 you here, and have occasioned you a long, tiresome journey." 



" To afford you the least comfort or satisfaction, my lord, I 

 would willingly have travelled twice that distance." 



" Thank you, my dear, for that pretty speech, and now Mrs. 

 Gordon will kindly show you to your room." 



" Well, my dear boy," remarked the Earl, when she had left 

 them, " you are one of the most fortunate men in the world to 

 have secured the affections of that sweet, lovely girl." 



" Indeed, my dear lord, she is far beyond my deserts, and I 

 am most thankful and grateful for such a treasure." 



" Yes, my boy, and so you ought to be, although in my 

 opinion you both appear exactly suited to each other." 



The next morning Blanche took a short stroll with Beau- 

 champ before breakfast, and on returning with the colour 

 mantling in her cheek, the old Earl appeared fascinated with 

 her radiant beauty, and unable to withdraw his eyes from her 

 face. He whispered to Mrs. Gordon, " Your dear, gentle niece 

 looks like a being from a brighter sphere, with that angelic 

 smile and dazzling complexion," The society of th&sc cheerful 

 guest? gave a momentary impulse to the expiring energies oi 



