"Yes—but pray don't look."
But before she had time to close the page and clasp the book, he had caught a view of a well drawn hat, and very tastefully touched whiskers.
The stranger smiled.
"It is indeed a beautiful little work," he continued.
"And the building so very picturesque. Grandpapa pulled down a row of cottages that the poor people lived in, and built this romantic little hermitage."
"So I have heard."
"Oh, have you? Grandpapa improved this place very much. Think how the view must have been spoilt by a row of nasty cottages, and a crowd of horrid poor people."
"It was very near the church for the cottagers."
"Oh! but papa is going to get the horrid old church removed to the other end of the parish, and have a beautiful building instead of the present tumble-down old ruin."
"Taste seems hereditary in your family."