"I think it is beautiful!" said Fleda. "The ground is a great deal smoother here than it was at home."
"I'll take you to ride to-morrow," said he, smiling, "and show you rough ground enough."
"As you did when we came from Montepoole?" said Fleda, rather eagerly.
"Would you like that!"
"Yes, very much if you would like it, Mr. Carleton.
"Very well," said he. "So it shall be."
And not a day passed during their short stay that he did not give her one of those rides. He showed her rough ground, according to his promise, but Fleda still thought it did not look much like the mountains "at home." And, indeed, unsightly roughness had been skilfully covered or removed; and though a large part of the park, which was a very extensive one, was wildly broken, and had apparently been left as nature left it, the hand of taste had been there; and many an unsuspected touch, instead of hindering, had heightened both the wild and the beautiful character. Landscape gardening had long been a great hobby of its owner.
"How far does your ground come, Mr. Carleton?" inquired Fleda on one of these rides, when they had travelled a good distance from home.
"Further than you can see, Elfie."
"Further than I can see! It must be a very large farm."