No doubt the handsome captain could make himself extremely agreeable if he chose, and he now exerted himself to the utmost, and succeeded.
Having expatiated upon the beauty of the formal old garden they were surveying, and saying how much he preferred it to the landscape style, he turned the discourse to the amusements and gaieties of London, and soon found that Mildred was really anxious to spend a season in town; whereupon he expressed the greatest satisfaction, as he should frequently have an opportunity of meeting her.
By this time Lady Barfleur had made her appearance, and as she could report nothing of Sir Leycester, she suggested a visit to the mere.
“It is a nice shady walk there through the wood,” she said; “and if you have not seen the mere, I think you will be struck by it.”
“Not by its beauty, mamma,” remarked Emmeline, “but rather by its blackness.”
“Well, such blackness as that water boasts is a beauty,” said Captain Danvers. “In my opinion, the mere is well worth seeing.”
“There are all sorts of legends attached to it,” said Emmeline. “Amongst others, there is a superstition, that when anything is about to happen to our house, a great piece of black oak, that has been sunk for ages at the bottom of the lake, floats to the surface.”
“An idle story,” remarked Lady Barfleur.
“You excite my curiosity,” said Mrs. Calverley. “I should like to see this mysterious lake.”
“You must excuse my accompanying you,” said Lady Barfleur. “Captain Danvers will conduct you there.”