morning. I shall positively take you by storm to-morrow morning, to Lover's Lane: it is the very place where you might sit and study Madame de Sevigné's Letters, and Fenelon, and Sherlock, and all your favourites. Nay, we might act the gipsy-scenes in Guy Mannering, if you liked. Then, there are whole hives of bees; and you might fancy yourself on Hymettus; and the banks are so green, and the furze so brightly yellow with its musky sweet! quite like one of your own Scotch knowes." "Ah!" replied Miss Macalpine, rubbing her forefinger, and sighing at the recollection of Scotland, "there's mony a fair scene, doubtless, in England; but the mountains and the streams of my own dear land, whaur will you see the like?" and she rubbed her finger the harder. Lady Frances shrugged her shoulders. "And the savages, Miss Macalpine, who animate these fair landscapes ?" "Are just the very grace and ornament of their country; the bravest and the truest! It suits you ill, Lady Frances, that can boast some Scotch bluid in your veins, to be decrying them. I would not change my own sweet, wild hills, and lone heaths, and misty mountains, for all the 'Groves o' sweet myrtle that foreign lands reckon.'' "Very right," rejoined General Montgomery, very right, Alpinia! never let them laugh you out of that. I could back your sentiment with many a good ancient proverb. There is no country like our own country, wherever that may be; and it would be well if every body thought so. That is the true way to maintain all things in their proper places." "Mind ye that, Lady Frances ?" said Miss Macalpine, turning to her: "I remember you, Lady Frances, a fine natural wean, when you were no higher than this; but you are not the same: e'en now your fine acquaintance in London, and your twa years in Paris, ha' na improved you." 66 What, Alpinia!" rejoined Lady Emily, taking up the discourse, which she was afraid was assuming too serious a tone, "have I not heard you say, yourself, that you should like to spend a few weeks at Fount and Blow and study the French fashions; the coiffoors of Monsieur Plaisir, and the costoomes de Bawl of Mamselle Catin, and the chapeaux, and the conrettes de Dantelle of the inimitable Madame Herbot?" imitating Miss Macalpine's pronunciation of the language. There was something in the straightforward, brusque simplicity of Miss Macalpine, which completely put to the rout Lady Frances's airs and affectations; and when she had excited, by some flippant or insolent speech, the honest indignation of her old friend, she had no resource but in silent sullenness, or the good-natured interference of her sister. On the present occasion, Lady Emily formed a diversion in her favour, by calling down upon herself the good-humoured wrath of Miss Macalpine; and after some sprightly conversation on French fashions, they rose from breakfast. The General addressed his friend, Sir Richard Townley, on the subject of extracting thistles and planting lucern; Lord Mowbray gave his arm to Lady Frances, and the whole party dispersed to their several avocations and amusements. CHAPTER IV. O rus, quando te aspiciam! HORACE. Blest rural scenes! when may I hope to see I court soft slumbers in delicious bowers, And in forgetfulness delicious drown The cares of anxious life and of the busy town? ONE morning, when every object of interest. in the neighbourhood seemed to have been exhausted in entertaining their visitor, and no other presented itself, General Montgomery addressed his niece, saying— "Dearest Emily, has Lord Mowbray yet seen my favourite bower ?” |