BEAUCHAMP LECTURES MRS. DOUGLAS. 385 



door being thrown open, I thought it best not to search the house, 

 or tell my errand, as I shall wait his return; but my impression 

 is that he bolted the moment he heard young Monkton was 

 nabbed, knowing he would squeak directly he was pinched." 



Having handsomely rewarded the officer for his trouble, and 

 given him his address in the country, Beauchamp sought Blanche 

 to consult her about Mrs. Douglas. " I do not like the mother 

 at all," he said ; " she is a bold, impudent woman ; but the two 

 daughters are genteel-looking, handsome girls, with the Douglas 

 features, and being your uncle's children, I suggest setting 

 them up in some business together as milliners, or allowing their 

 mother three hundred a-year to maintain them until they marry, 

 when I ^^^.ll give each a good marriage portion, if they form 

 respectable connections." 



" Your proposal is very liberal, dear AYilliam, and you will 

 of course take this money from my income." 



" We will talk of that another day, my dear girl, as I have 

 only consulted you now to know if you approve my plans ; and 

 as we have nothing to detain us in London, my father and myself 

 intend leaving the day after to-morrow ; and I need not say what 

 pleasure it would give us both, if Aunt Gordon and yourself 

 will travel with us ; the two couples that are to be can occupy 

 one carriage, and aunty and the governor the other, which will 

 afford our venerable earl an opportunity of popping the question 

 — only fancy aunty Countess of Annandale." 



" Oh, William, how can you be so silly 1 " 



" Silly, you stupid child ! you are silly not to perceive the 

 unmistakable signs of the governor's ^e/?.c/ia?i^, which I have par- 

 ticularly noticed for the last six months ; the fire has been 

 smouldering for some time, and you will soon see it burst forth 

 into a flame ; so now lue have had our spell of love-making, we 

 will give them an opportunity of playing the same game ; but 

 not a word or hint to aunty, Blanche ; leave all the arrrange- 

 ments to me : only go now and prepare her for leaving, whilst 

 I drive down to Islington, and to-morrow I will take you with 

 me to do a little shopping by ourselves." 



Beauchamp gave Mrs. Douglas a severe lecture for her past 

 infamous conduct, and then explained his intentions towards 

 herself and children, for which she expressed her grateful 

 thanks. 



" It will now," he said, " depend on your future conduct 

 whether you receive any further assistance from Miss Douglas 

 and myself;" and desiring then to see her daughters, he told 



T 



