"There are so many pretty houses here, each standing in its own grounds.

Nothing very grand, as I tell my friend, Miss Cham, from Buffalo where the residences are, of course, on quite a different scale; but grandeur isn't everything, is it ?" "No, indeed," said Lorne.
"But you will be leaving for Great Britain very soon now, Mr Murchison," said Miss Filkin.

"Leaving Elgin and all its beauties! And I dare say you won't think of them once again till you get back!" "I hope I shall not be so busy as that, Miss Filkin." "Oh, no, I'm sure Mr Murchison won't forget his native town altogether," said Mrs Milburn, "though perhaps he won't like it so well after seeing dear old England!" "I expect," said Lorne simply, "to like it better." "Well, of course, we shall all be pleased if you say that, Mr Murchison," Mrs Milburn replied graciously.

"We shall feel quite complimented.

But I'm afraid you will find a great deal to criticize when you come back--that is, if you go at all into society over there.