ter's tastes, and she
willingly went with him toward the lake.

"How beautiful it all is!" she said as they went down the terrace steps
and along the lake path which led through a pergola and around a curved
corner called "The Alcove."

This delightful nook was a small open court of marble, adorned with
pillars and statues, and partly surrounding a fountain.

"Yes, isn't it?" exclaimed Bob, enthusiastically. "You know, Patty, this
old place is my joy and my despair. I love every stick and stone of it,
but I wish we could keep it up in decent order. Heigh-ho! Just wait until
I'm out of college. I'll do something then to turn an honest shilling,
and every penny of it shall go to fix up the dear old place."

"What are you going to be, Bob?"

"An engineer. There's more chance for a fellow in that than in any other
profession. Old Sinclair's for being a lawyer, and he'll be a good one,
too, but it's slow work."

"You ought to go to America, Bob, if you want to get rich."

"I would, like a shot, if I could take the old house with me. But I'm
afraid it's too big to uproot."

"I'm afraid it is. I suppose you wouldn't like to live in a brown-stone
front on Fifth Avenue?"

"Never having seen your brown-stone Avenue, ma'am, I can't say; but I
suppose a deer park and lake and several thousand acres of meadow land
are not included with each house."

"No; not unless you take the whole of Manhattan Island."

"Even that wouldn't do; unless I had taken it a few hundred years ago,
and started the trees growing then."

"No, America wouldn't suit you," said Patty, thoughtfully, "any more than
English country life would suit most of our American boys."

"But you like this life of ours?"

"I love it; for a time. And just now I am enjoying it immensely. Oh, what
gorgeous lilies!"

They had reached the lake, and the quiet, well-behaved water was placidly
rippling against the stone coping.

Bob untied the boat.

"It's an old thing," he said, regretfully; "but it's water-tight, so
don't be afraid."

Patty went down the broad marble steps, and seated herself in the stern
of the boat, while Bob took the rowing seat.

A few of his strong pulls, and they were out among the lily pads.

"Row around a bit before we gather them," suggested Patty, and Bob with
long, slow strokes sent the boat softly and steadily along.

"Isn't it perfect?" said Patty, dreamily. "It seems as if nothing could
stir me up on a day like this."

"I