How dangerous all this! how thoroughly I felt my heart imbued with the sweet homelike influence of this every day companionship, yet I was astonishingly prudent, not altogether in consequence of Burton's admonitions; I dreaded to break the repose of our intercourse, and more than all, the frankness and friendliness of Miss Vernon's manner, opposed a stronger barrier to the least approach to "love making," than the stiffest prudery that ever was inculcated in a first-rate establishment for young ladies. Once, and only once, when some expression of the irrepressible tenderness and admiration I felt growing on me, escaped my lips almost unconsciously, Miss Vernon blushed and started, as if some sudden revelation had flashed across her mind, and, for a moment looked grave, almost displeased, but the next instant, apparently dismissing whatever thought had disturbed her, she was her own unembarrassed self again. The Saturday after my return to A---- was Miss Vernon's birthday, and Winter surprised her with an admirably painted and life-like likeness of her grandfather. The delight of Kate, the exclamations of Nurse, the enjoyment of Winter, may be imagined; the whole party, including Gilpin, assisted at its formal induction in the place of honour over the mantel-piece, _vice_ John Anderson transferred to a position at the end of the room, Kate professing a great regard for the print; I distinguished myself on the occasion by my skilful picture-hanging, Mrs. O'Toole holding the ladder, on which I mounted to perform the service. We had a very merry party at dinner, and drank Miss Vernon's health, and everybody's health. I proposed Mrs. O'Toole's in an eloquent oration, to which she (having been called in to honour the toast of the evening) replied, "Success to ye Captin, musha, but ye'r a grate spaker entirely. Here's your health, Miss Kate, and blessins on ye, me darlin; more power to the masther, and long may he reign over us, I pray God." Before we separated Winter proposed a sketching expedition to a ruin of much beauty and some interest, about eight miles from A----, and Miss Vernon suggested a pic nic to include the party there assembled. "We can hire Edward's phaeton, and Mr. Winter is independent of livery stables; Cyclops will no doubt leave us far behind, but we will endeavour to come in for the fragments of the feast." "If you promise to behave yourself," replied he, "I'll give you a seat in my buggy." "Suppose, my dear," said Mrs. Winter, "we were to take tea at the farm, on our return; it is about half way?" "Thank you, my dear, an excellent idea." "A delightful suggestion, Mrs. Winter," said Miss Vernon. "Then the programme is," said Winter, "an early drive over to Mowbray Castle, a good morning's work there; dinner at two o'clock and tea at five, and syllabubs at the farm." "An admirable plan," observed the Colonel. "There is nothing I like better than a real impromptu pic nic," I observed.