se its hospitalities.

The servants of the Castle were well accustomed to obey him, and when
he gave his orders for breakfast to be speedily laid out in the
conservatory, they set about the preparations with zeal and activity.
With such promptitude, indeed, were the arrangements made that by
the time MacNaghten had conducted his guests to the spot, all was in
readiness awaiting them.

The place was admirably chosen, being a central point in the
conservatory, from which alleys branched out in different directions;
some opening upon little plots of flowers or ornamental shrubbery,
others disclosing views of the woodland scenery or the distant mountains
beyond it. The table was spread beside a marble basin, into which a
little group of sportive Titans were seen spouting. Great Nile lilies
floated on the crystal surface, and gold and silver fish flashed and
glittered below. The board itself, covered with luscious fruit, most
temptingly arranged amidst beautiful flowers, displayed, besides,
some gorgeous specimens of Sevres and Saxony, hastily taken from their
packing-cases, while a large vase of silver, richly chased, stood in the
centre, and exhibited four views of the Castle, painted in medallions on
its sides.

"If you'll sit here, Miss Polly," said MacNaghten, "you'll have a
prettier view, for you'll see the lake, and catch a peep, too, of the
Swiss Cottage on the crag above it. I must show you the cottage after
breakfast. It was a bit of fancy of my own,--copied, I am free to
confess, from one I saw in the Oberland.--Fagan, help yourself; you 'll
find these cutlets excellent. Our friend Carew has made an admirable
choice of a cook."

"You treat us in princely fashion, sir," said Fagan, whose eyes glanced
from the splendor before him to his daughter, and there tried to read
her thoughts.

"You gave me no time for that; had you told me you were coming down, I
'd have tried to receive you properly. As it is, pray make up your mind
to stay a day or two,--Carew will be so delighted; nothing flatters him
so much as to hear praise of this place."

"Ah, sir, you forget that men like myself have but few holidays."

"So much the worse, Fagan; remember what the adage says about all
work and no play. Not, by Jove, but I 'm sure that the converse of the
proposition must have its penalty, too; for if not, I should have been a
marvellously clever fellow.--Ay, Miss Polly, my life has been all play."

"A greater fault than th