"He will be a great loss to me, for I do not ride," Laetitia replied to the off-hand inquiry.
"Ah!"
Miss Middleton did not fan conversation when she simply breathed her voice.
Laetitia tried another neutral theme.
"The weather to-day suits our country," she said.
"England, or Patterne Park? I am so devoted to mountains that I have no enthusiasm for flat land."
"Do you call our country flat, Miss Middleton? We have undulations, hills, and we have sufficient diversity, meadows, rivers, copses, brooks, and good roads, and pretty by-paths."
"The prettiness is overwhelming. It is very pretty to see; but to live with, I think I prefer ugliness. I can imagine learning to love ugliness. It's honest. However young you are, you cannot be deceived by it. These parks of rich people are a part of the prettiness. I would rather have fields, commons."
"The parks give us delightful green walks, paths through beautiful woods."
"If there is a right-of-way for the public."