'And didn't appreciate "Head of Antinous by Miss Ursula Egremont,"' was the cry that interrupted her, but she went on with dignity unruffled--'Anything so foolish and inane as their whole talk and all their observations I never heard. "I don't like this style," one of them said. "Such ugly useless things! I never see anything pretty and neatly finished such as we used to do."' The girl gave it in a tone of mimicry of the nonchalant voice, adding, with fresh imitation, "'And another did not approve of drawing from the life--models might be such strange people."' 'My ears were not equally open to their profanities,' said Miss Mary. 'I confess that I was struck by the good breeding and courtesy of the leader of the party, who, I think, was Lady Kirkaldy herself.' 'I saw! I thought she was patronising you, and my blood boiled!' cried Nuttie. 'Will boiling blood endure a picnic in the park of so much ignorance, folly, and patronage?' asked Mr. Dutton. 'Oh, indeed, Mr. Dutton, Nuttie never said that,' exclaimed gentle Mrs. Egremont. 'Whether it is fully worth the doing is the question,' said the vicar. 'Grass and shade do not despise,' said Miss Mary. 'There surely must be some ecclesiastical remains,' said the young man. 'And there is a river,' added the vicar. 'I shall get a stickleback for my aquarium,' cried Nuttie. 'We shall make some discoveries for the Scientific Society. I shall note down every individual creature I see! I say! you are sure it is not a sham waterfall or Temple of Tivoli?' 'It would please the choir boys and G. F. S. girls quite as much, if not more, in that case,' said Miss Mary; 'but you need not expect that, Nuttie. Landscape-gardening is gone by.' 'Even with the county people?' said Nuttie. 'By at least half a century,' said Mr. Dutton, 'with all deference to this young lady's experience.' 'It was out of their own mouths,' cried the girl defiantly. 'That's all I know about county people, and so I hope it will be.' 'Come in, my dear, you are talking very fast,' interposed Mrs. Egremont, with some pain in the soft sweet voice, which, if it had been a little stronger, would have been the best in the choir.