that side of the carriage.

"It wouldn't be used for a pasture ground, if we had it there," said
Rupert.

"Perhaps it would. I fancy it is too wet for grain," St. Leger answered.

"Now here is a lake again," said Dolly. "How large, and how pretty!
Miles and miles, it must be. How pretty those little islands are, Mr.
Babbage!"

Mrs. Copley exchanged again, and immediately burst out--

"Dolly, Dolly, did you see that woman's earrings? I declare they were a
foot long."

"I beg your pardon--half a foot, Mrs. Copley."

"What do you suppose they are made of?"

"True gold or silver."

"Mercy! that's the oddest thing I've seen yet. I suppose Holland is a
very rich country."

"And here come country houses and gardens again," said Dolly. "There's
a garden filled with marble statues, mother."

Mrs. Copley shifted her seat to the other side to look at the statues,
and directly after went back to see some curiously trimmed yews in
another garden. So it went on; Dolly and her mother getting a good deal
of exercise by the way. Mrs. Copley was ready for her dinner, and
enjoyed it; and Dolly perceiving this enjoyed hers too.

Then they were delighted with Arnheim. They drove into the town towards
evening; and the quaint, picturesque look of the place, lying bright in
the sunshine of a warm September day, took the hearts of both ladies.
The odd gables, the endless variety of building, the balconies hung
with climbing vines; and above all, the little gardens, gay with fall
flowers and furnished with arbours or some sort of shelter, under some
of which people were taking tea, while in others the wooden tables and
chairs stood ready though empty, testifying to a good deal of habitual
out-of-door life; they stirred Dolly's fancy and Mrs. Copley's
curiosity. Both of them were glad to spend the night in such a pretty
place.

After they had had supper comfortably, Dolly left her mother talking to
St. Leger and slipped out quietly to take a walk, having privately
summoned Rupert to attend her. The walk was full of enjoyment. It
lasted a good while; till Dolly began to grow a little tired, and the
evening light was dying away; then the steps slackened which had been
very brisk at setting out, and Dolly began to let her thoughts go
beyond what was immediately before her. She was very much inclined to
be glad now of Rupert's presence in the party. She perceived that he
was already devoted to her service; not with Mr. St. Leger's
p