not speak more to me about her," he thought, "though
perhaps he might have fancied had he praised her I might have supposed
he wished to offer her as an attraction to me to visit Texford.
However, I am convinced that such a thought never entered his mind."

Although the rain at length ceased, the walks were so wet that Julia
confessed she should prefer crossing the lake to returning home by land.

At the other end of the lake an artificial stream of sufficient depth
for the boat, known as the Serpentine, meandered through the grounds and
reached almost to the house. There were several rustic bridges which
crossed it here and there, but they were of sufficient height to allow
the boat to pass under them. Julia having told Headland where he could
find the boat while she remained in the summer-house, he went to fetch
it. As it was kept under a shed it was perfectly dry. He handed her
into it, and pushing off from the bank they commenced their voyage.

The sun again shone forth brightly, and the air felt fresh and pure
after the storm. For some distance he rowed close to the shore where a
number of water-lilies floated on the surface. He had seldom seen such
beautiful flowers. He described, however, the marine gardens in the
Eastern seas visible through the clear water for an immense depth below
the surface.

"Have you been much in the East?" asked Julia.

"I believe I was born there," he answered, forgetting his intention of
not speaking of himself. "Indeed my early days were at all events
passed in that part of the world. I have been at sea the greater
portion of my life, and have comparatively but little knowledge of the
shore or the dwellers on it. I had no notion that there were such
beautiful places as this appears to me in England. I conclude there are
not many such."

"Oh, yes," said Julia. "There are many far more magnificent and
extensive, though I might not admire them more than this, and certainly
should not love them so much. Though we have not been here very long, I
spent months when I was a girl with our uncle Sir Reginald, and became
greatly attached to the place. We did not know at the time that we
should ever come to live here, as papa's elder brother was then alive.
Though he has not since been heard of he is supposed to be dead, and
papa consequently came into possession of the title and estates."

Julia said this not feeling that there was any necessity for keeping the
matter a sec