Mr. Land passed over the village dwellings very slightly; but when they came in view of a large white house standing on the river-side with broad lawns and clustering elms, he pointed it out to her with an air of great dignity.
"That seat, Chirke Weston, belongs to Captain Gage. Quite the gentleman, Miss Capel."
The father of the young Gages who disliked Mr. Casement. Margaret looked with much interest at the white walls of the house.
"They are expecting home, Mr. Hubert," said Land, "such a fine young gentleman. A sailor like his father--they are a fine family. Miss Gage is the handsomest young lady in the county."
Margaret felt interested in the Gage family, she begged Land to point out to her where they sat at church, that she might know them by sight. They came to some fields which took them another way to Ashdale.
"Is this field, my uncle Grey's?" asked Margaret, "what a large pond! I say, Land, when I was a little girl I could skate very well. Could you get me a pair of skates? I will give you the money."
Land looked very grave; but Margaret coaxed and begged so much, that he said he would see about it; and the next morning a small pair of skates was laid beside her shoes outside her bed-room door.
The frost continued: she hurried over her organ practice; and went down to the pond with Land. Her skates were on in a moment; and had there been any spectators, they might have enjoyed the sight of an old man holding a young lady's muff and boa, while she amused herself by skimming over the ice. She was never weary. Poor old Land walked up and down the side of the pond with his hands in her muff, wishing every minute that she would bring her sport to a conclusion, until he was forced to tell her that his time was up, for he had to go in and see to the cleaning of the plate. The next day she managed to go out earlier, for the frost was still hard, and she determined to make the most of it while it lasted.
She excited the unqualified approbation of Land by her performance, for, as she bade him observe, she was fairly getting into practice.
She flew round the pond, and across, and back, until he was almost tired of watching her.
"Miss Capel--Miss Capel! quick! here comes Mr. Casement," cried Land, but Margaret was careering round the pond and did not hear him.