BLANCHE AND CONSTANCE IN THE NORTH. 411 



'* But lie wil], my love, and I'll back him up to assert his 

 rights and supremacy, in defiance of petticoat government. Oh ! 

 la ! how funny ! my Lord Beauchamp carried up-stairs roaring 

 drunk, and my Lady Beauchamp in hysterics." 



" My dear Charles, how silly you still are ! " 



" Yes, my love — and always hope to be ; so now pass the 

 bottle, and I'll give a toast — bumpers round — ' May we never 

 feel less happy than now ! ' " 



CHAPTER LL 



Whilst Beauchamp and Malcolm were walking over stubbles 

 and turnips in search of partridges, Blanche and Constance 

 were walking through the village, renewing tlieir acquaintance 

 with their poor neighbours ; and many a silent blessing was 

 invoked by the aged and infirm, the fatherless and widow, on 

 the heads of those two sisters of charity, as they entered their 

 humble cottages. 



Blanche and Beauchamp had resolved on devoting a large 

 portion of their income to ameliorate the condition of the 

 dependents on their extensive properties ; and in place of the 

 wretched hovels and small tenements, the general habitations 

 of the poor, new cottages were to be erected, on a plan drawn 

 by themselves, which allowed of two good-sized front-rooms on 

 the gi'ound floor, with bakehouse, back-kitchen, &c., and a 

 quarter of an acre of land to each cottage. ISTew school- rooms, 

 where wanted, were also to be provided — clothing clubs estab- 

 lished in every village and hamlet on their estates, with a large 

 subscription by themselves, and, in addition to Lord Beau- 

 champ's name standing at the head of each club or benefit 

 society, weekly provision was made by himself and Blanche for 

 all vv'idows, orphans, and those past labouring for their o^vn 

 support ; so that of each it might be said in the words of 

 Job, " When the ear heard me, then it blessed me ; and when 

 the eye saw me, it gave witness to me : because I delivered the 

 poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to 

 help him." 



The management of the whole property in the north, around 

 and belonging to the Castle, was entrusted by the Earl to his 

 ion, who woiUd admit of no iaterventioa between the teniinta 



