ess and complaisance towards every other
member of the party, especially Annabella Wilmot, and even her uncle and
Mr. Boarham were treated with an extra amount of civility on the
occasion, not from any motives of coquetry, but just to show him that my
particular coolness and reserve arose from no general ill-humour or
depression of spirits.

He was not, however, to be repelled by such acting as this. He did not
talk much to me, but when he did speak it was with a degree of freedom
and openness, and kindliness too, that plainly seemed to intimate he knew
his words were music to my ears; and when his looks met mine it was with
a smile--presumptuous, it might be--but oh! so sweet, so bright, so
genial, that I could not possibly retain my anger; every vestige of
displeasure soon melted away beneath it like morning clouds before the
summer sun.

Soon after breakfast all the gentlemen save one, with boyish eagerness,
set out on their expedition against the hapless partridges; my uncle and
Mr. Wilmot on their shooting ponies, Mr. Huntingdon and Lord Lowborough
on their legs: the one exception being Mr. Boarham, who, in consideration
of the rain that had fallen during the night, thought it prudent to
remain behind a little and join them in a while when the sun had dried
the grass. And he favoured us all with a long and minute disquisition
upon the evils and dangers attendant upon damp feet, delivered with the
most imperturbable gravity, amid the jeers and laughter of Mr. Huntingdon
and my uncle, who, leaving the prudent sportsman to entertain the ladies
with his medical discussions, sallied forth with their guns, bending
their steps to the stables first, to have a look at the horses and let
out the dogs.

Not desirous of sharing Mr. Boarham's company for the whole of the
morning, I betook myself to the library, and there brought forth my easel
and began to paint. The easel and the painting apparatus would serve as
an excuse for abandoning the drawing-room if my aunt should come to
complain of the desertion, and besides I wanted to finish the picture.
It was one I had taken great pains with, and I intended it to be my
masterpiece, though it was somewhat presumptuous in the design. By the
bright azure of the sky, and by the warm and brilliant lights and deep
long shadows, I had endeavoured to convey the idea of a sunny morning. I
had ventured to give more of the bright verdure of spring or early summer
to the grass and fo