"What mischief have you two been about?" said my wife, as we entered our room in the inn, where the cloth was already laid for dinner. "You look just like two schoolboys that have been laying some plot, and can hardly hold their tongues about it." "We have been enjoying our little walk amazingly," I answered. "So much so, that we mean to set out for another the moment dinner is over." "I hope you will take Wynnie with you then." "Or you, my love," I returned. "No; I will stay with Connie." "Very well. You, and Connie too, shall go out to-morrow, for we have found a place we want to take you to. And, indeed, I believe it was our anticipation of the pleasure you and she would have in the view that made us so merry when you accused us of plotting mischief." My wife replied only with a loving look, and dinner appearing at this moment, we sat down a happy party. When that was over--and a very good dinner it was, just what I like, homely in material but admirable in cooking--Wynnie and Percivale and I set out again. For as Percivale and I came back in the morning we had seen the church standing far aloft and aloof on the other side of the little valley, and we wanted to go to it. It was rather a steep climb, and Wynnie accepted Percivale's offered arm. I led the way, therefore, and left them to follow--not so far in the rear, however, but that I could take a share in the conversation. It was some little time before any arose, and it was Wynnie who led the way into it. "What kind of things do you like best to paint, Mr. Percivale?" she asked. He hesitated for several seconds, which between a question and an answer look so long, that most people would call them minutes. "I would rather you should see some of my pictures--I should prefer that to answering your question," he said, at length. "But I have seen some of your pictures," she returned. "Pardon me. Indeed you have not, Miss Walton." "At least I have seen some of your sketches and studies." "Some of my sketches--none of my studies." "But you make use of your sketches for your pictures, do you not?" "Never of such as you have seen. They are only a slight antidote to my pictures." "I cannot understand you." "I do not wonder at that. But I would rather, I repeat, say nothing about my pictures till you see some of them." "But how am I to have that pleasure, then?" "You go to London sometimes, do you not?" "Very rarely. More rarely still when the Royal Academy is open." "That does not matter much. My pictures are seldom to be found there." "Do you not care to send them there?" "I send one, at least, every year. But they are rarely accepted." "Why?" This was a very improper question, I thought; but if Wynnie had thought so she would not have put it. He hesitated a little before he replied--