He instantly recognised us, and met us with his pleased and
intelligent smile.
'I was just trying to describe to Lady Knollys the charming scenery of the
Windmill Wood, among which I was so fortunate as to make your acquaintance,
Miss Ruthyn. Even in this beautiful county I know of nothing prettier.'
Then he sketched it, as it were, with a few light but glowing words.
'What a sweet scene!' said Cousin Monica: 'only think of her never bringing
me through it. She reserves it, I fancy, for her romantic adventures; and
you, I know, are very benevolent, Ilbury, and all that kind of thing; but I
am not quite certain that you would have walked along that narrow parapet,
over a river, to visit a sick old woman, if you had not happened to see two
very pretty demoiselles on the other side.'
'What an ill-natured speech! I must either forfeit my character for
disinterested benevolence, so justly admired, or disavow a motive that does
such infinite credit to my taste,' exclaimed Mr. Carysbroke. 'I think a
charitable person would have said that a philanthropist, in prosecuting his
virtuous, but perilous vocation, was unexpectedly _rewarded_ by a vision of
angels.
Pages:
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479