seems to have an irresistible attraction for country people. He opened up a conversation by admiring our sketch, though in a qualified manner. He was pleased to say that it was "mighty" pretty, only he preferred a photograph to a drawing any day. He had had a photograph taken of his house lately, and on the photograph you could count every brick on the walls and every tile on the roofs. "Now, that's what I call a proper kind of picture,—not but that yours is very nice for hand-work"!
This is a very fair specimen of the criticisms that the long-enduring landscape painter has frequently to put up with when at work in the open.
Next our art-critic and photograph-admirer presumed that we must be strangers, as he knew most of the folk round about, but did not remember having "sighted us afore." We replied that we were. "Now, do you know," responded he, "I was sure of that"; and seeing no advantage in further continuing the conversation, we hastened off to our inn—and breakfast.
In spite of our early rising, it was ten o'clock before we got "under weigh," but when one sets out exploring and sketching, to say nothing of gossiping, time flies.
It was one of those rare and perfect days that come only now and then in the year, which, when they come, linger lovingly in the memory for long after. A stilly day of soft sunshine wherein is no glare; overhead great rounded clouds of golden white, shading off into a tender pearly-gray, were sailing slowly across a sea of pure, pale blue,—clouds
