"At least, I had temptation to plead in excuse, but your motive was sheer mischief!"
"And you call that no temptation, do you?"
The dining room looked on a different view of the river and fields, and gave a peep of a wood on the opposite bank, which I had not yet seen. Its furniture bespoke the absence of wealth; the only approach to ornament was a gracefully shaped basket filled with bright flowers, which did duty as an epergne; while the well-polished plate, bright glass, and snowy table linen, were admirable substitutes for more costly addenda; and equally refreshing was the simple dinner of trout from the river, Welch mutton, and fresh fruit, to my palate, wearied with the hacknied entrées of our regimental chef.
Nurse performed the part of butler with much empressement, and occasionally, in reply to any question from her master, joined with much ease and self-possession in the conversation.
There was something deliciously new to me in the whole entertainment. My experience of dinners had been confined to the olla podrida of the mess table, and the equally long full dress affairs at which I had assisted, both in town and country, with an occasional scramble at an hotel or restaurant; but here there were grace and order that did not convey the idea of employing a host of attendants, and consuming a small fortune in its production; in short, it appeared to possess the charm of home, which nothing costly or studied ever conveys.
"You have a different view here," I observed, looking up from my plate to the prospect before me, "and I fancy it will afford some sketchable points."
"Then you sketch; how pleasant!" said Miss Vernon.
"It was a search for the picturesque brought him here," replied the Colonel.
"For the beautiful and picturesque, Colonel," I added.
"Well, well, they are generally united."