cottage.

My astonishment was great at the "interior" now before me; for though
all the arrangements bespoke habits of comfort and even luxury,
there was a studious observance of cottage style in everything; the
bookshelves, the tables, the very pianoforte, being all made of white
unvarnished wood. And I now perceived that the young lady herself,
with a charming coquetry, had assumed something of the costume of the
Oberland, and wore her bodice laced in front, and covered with silver
embroidery both tasteful and becoming.

"My name is Crofton," said my host, as he disengaged himself of his
basket and tackle; "we are almost as much strangers here as yourself. I
came here for the fishing, and mean to take myself off when it 's over."

"I hope not, Edward," broke in the girl, who was now, with the
assistance of a servant-woman, preparing the table for supper; "I hope
you 'll stay till we see the autumn tints on those trees."

"My sister is just as great an enthusiast about sketching as I am for
salmon-fishing," said he, laughingly; "and for my own part, I like
scenery and landscape very well, but think them marvellously heightened
by something like sport. Are you an angler?"

"No," said I; "I know nothing of the gentle craft"

"Fond of shooting, perhaps? Some men think the two sports incompatible."

"I am as inexpert with the gun as the rod," said I, diffidently.

I perceived that the sister gave a sly look under her long eyelashes
towards me; but what its meaning, I could not well discover. Was it
depreciation of a man who avowed himself unacquainted with the sports
of the field, or was it a quiet recognition of claims more worthy
of regard? At all events, I perceived that she had very soft,
gentle-looking gray eyes, a very fair skin, and a profusion of beautiful
brown hair. I had not thought her pretty at first I now saw that she was
extremely pretty, and her figure, though slightly given to fulness, the
perfection of grace.

Hungry, almost famished as I was, with a fast of twelve hours, I felt no
impatience so long as she moved about in preparation for the meal. How
she disposed the little table equipage, the careful solicitude with
which she arranged the fruit and the flowers,--not always satisfied with
her first dispositions, but changing them for something different,--all
interested me vastly, and when at last we were summoned to table, I
actually felt sorry and disappointed.

Was it really so delicious, w