"I have already met your
sister, Mr. McIntyre, on the very first day that I came here. We took
shelter in a shed from a snowstorm, and had quite a pleasant little
chat."
"I had no notion that I was speaking to the owner of the Hall," said
Laura in some confusion. "How funnily things turn out, to be sure!"
"I had often wondered who it was that I spoke to, but it was only
yesterday that I discovered. What a sweet little place you have here!
It must be charming in summer. Why, if it were not for this hill my
windows would look straight across at yours."
"Yes, and we should see all your beautiful plantations," said Laura,
standing beside him in the window. "I was wishing only yesterday that
the hill was not there."
"Really! I shall be happy to have it removed for you if you would like
it."
"Good gracious!" cried Laura. "Why, where would you put it?"
"Oh, they could run it along the line and dump it anywhere. It is not
much of a hill. A few thousand men with proper machinery, and a line of
rails brought right up to them could easily dispose of it in a few
months."
"And the poor vicar's house?" Laura asked, laughing.
"I think that might be got over. We could run him up a facsimile, which
would, perhaps, be more convenient to him.
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