384 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDg. 



cliampi to have gained the love of that sweet, true-hearted 

 girl, who is more like an angel than a woman." 



" Indeed, Malcolm, I am most thankful for this inestimable 

 blessing, and my life shall be devoted to her happiness." 



" I don't doubt it, my dear fellow, for I believe you love her 

 ten times mo/e than your o^vn self ; and now let us dress foi 

 dinner." 



The family party that evening was one of the happiest in 

 London ; and the gloom which had hung over Blanche Douglas 

 being dispelled, her usual cheerfulness returned, which put the 

 old earl and Mrs. Gordon in high spirits. 



" Ah, you naughty child," exclaimed the former, " you are 

 rejoicing now that you are on a par with my boy Will. I see 

 it all, you proud girl." 



" I am proud and pleased, my dear father, to have it in my 

 power to bestow on him something which may compensate for 

 the trouble he will have in taking care of me." 



" No, no, child, you are thinking of the dash you will make 

 in town next season as Lady Beauchamp, and drive my poor boy 

 crazy with your flirtations ; I read your purpose in those wicked 

 eyes, Blanche, and am almost sorry you have recovered your 

 fortune." . 



" It will be William's soon, my dear father, and if he chooses 

 to bring me to London, I cannot prevent that ; but I can pre- 

 vent myself flirting." 



" Then come here, child, I have a word to say for your ear 

 alone ;" and drawing Blanche close to him, he whispered, " if 

 you ever do flirt, my dear girl, which Heaven forbid, you will 

 certainly break your husband's heart, and your father's too." 



" My kind, dear father," she replied, *' never will I cause you 

 or him one moment's uneasiness ; and surely you do not think 

 me capable of acting so disgracefully." 



" No, no, my precious child ; so now give me a kiss, and 

 sing me my favourite old song of ' Home, sweet home,' where, 

 please God, we will be again by the end of this week." 



The next morning, the Bow Street officer called in Gros- 

 venor Square about twelve o'clock, and informed Beauchamp 

 that he believed jNlangle had cut and run. " He never went to 

 his office yesterday, my lord, and the woman at Monkton's 

 lodging told me he was in a desperate way when the name o/ 

 Lord Henry was mentioned, and jumping into a cab, he drove 

 back to his own house. There also I could hear nothing more 

 than that he had left early yesterday morning for his office. The 



