Coristine proposed to botanize, but did not care to detain the expedition by continually opening his knapsack, nor to incommode himself with the burden of the strap press.  He regretted that he had not brought his vasculum, when Miss Carmichael spoke up, and said that she would furnish him with one when the party was ready to start.  After dinner the company lounged for half an hour on the verandah and in the garden.  There the Captain made up his mind to go with the exploring party, and take charge of Richards’ scow on the first lake, that being the only craft available.  Ben Toner came round from the kitchen and asked the Squire if he had anything for him to do, as Sylvanus wanted to stay with old man Newcome and read the Bible to him.

“Do you know the lakes, Toner?” asked Mr. Carruthers.

“If you don’t mind Squier, I’d sooner you’d call me Ben.”

“Well, Ben, then?”

“Yaas, leastways I’ve ben at the laiuk as is nighes to han.’”

“Do you mind taking your gun, and looking out for sport with these gentlemen?”

“They isn’t nawthin I’d laike bettr’en that.”

So, Ben got his gun and ammunition, and the Captain was furnished with a stout walking-cane loaded in the head.  The two parsons, the dominie, and the lawyer had pistols in their pockets.  When ready to start, Miss Carmichael came up to Coristine carrying some mysterious object behind her back.  Rapidly bringing it forward, she threw a thick green cord over the lawyer’s shoulders, from which depended a browny black japanned tin candle-box.  Of course, it was an accident that the cord was short, and that Coristine bent his head just as the fair damsel stood on tiptoe to adjust the improvised vasculum.

“I hope I didn’t hurt you with my awkwardness, Miss Carmichael,” pleaded the penitent knight of the order of the candle-box.

“Not at all, Mr. Coristine, it was my fault.  I am afraid your nose suffered.”

“Ha! ha!” chuckled the Captain, “young fellows can stand a lot o’ that sort o’ punishment.  Reefs o’ that kind don’t do human vessels no harm.”

Wilkinson was getting sick of the Captain and his aggressive vulgarity.  Coristine didn’t mind him; anybody belonging to Miss Carmichael was, for the present, delightful.  Nevertheless, for marching purposes, he fell in with Toner, while the Captain accompanied Mr. Errol, and Wilkinson, Mr. Perrowne.  They had six miles to tramp, which took them a good hour and a-half.  The Captain discussed navigation in Scripture times with the minister, and decided that the Jews might have been good at punting round, but were a poor seafaring lot.  The dominie and the parson were deep in the philosophy of the affections, in the course of which excursus the former quoted the words:—­

     Like Dian’s kiss, unasked, unsought,
     Love gives itself, it is not bought
     Nor voice nor sound betrays
     Its deep, impassionated gaze.