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｛〃cicerone〃 = guide （Italian）； 〃les ormeaux； les rameaux； et les hameaux。。。〃 = elms； branches； and hamlets （French）｝
〃Are Mrs。 Hilson and her sister still at Saratoga？〃 inquired Charlie Hubbard of Hazlehurst； the evening they arrived at Caldwell。
｛〃Caldwell〃 = village at the southern end of Lake George in New York State； the village has since been renamed Lake George｝
〃I believe so； they were there the day before； yesterday； for Mrs。 Hilson asked me to a pic…nic； at Barkydt's ｛sic｝ but I was engaged。 I think I saw Miss Hubbard in the street； yesterday。〃
｛〃Barkydt's〃 = Barhydt's Pond； a 〃little ear…shaped lake。。。surrounded by pyramidal firs； pines and evergreens；〃 once famous for its trout fishing； owned by Jacobus Barhydt （often spelled Barhyte）。 A pleasure spot two miles east of Saratoga Springs； it was； in the 1830s； the site of a popular tavern and restaurant。 Jacobus Barhydt died in 1840； and the property was dispersed； to be reassembled in 1881 by New York banker Spencer Trask as a summer estate After many changes； it is now owned by the Corporation of Yaddo； and run as a world…famous summer center for creative artists and writers｝
〃Had they the same party with them still？〃
〃Yes； it seemed to be very much the same party。〃
Hubbard looked mortified； but he was soon busy answering inquiries as to the projected movements for the next day。
The following morning the whole party set out； in two skiffs； to pass the day on the lake。 Under Charlie's guidance； they rowed about among the islands； now coasting the shores； now crossing from one point to another； wherever the views were finest； generally keeping near enough； as they moved leisurely along； for conversation between the two boats。
〃How beautifully clear the water is！〃 exclaimed Elinor。
〃The water in the Swiss lakes is limpid I suppose； Charlie； like most mountain streams？〃 observed Mr。 Wyllys。
〃It is clear； sir； and in the heart of the Alps it has a very peculiar coloura blueish tingefrom the glaciers； like molten lapis lazuli； entirely different from the deep； ultra…marine blue of the Mediterranean。〃
〃Have you any views of the Swiss lakes？〃 asked Elinor。〃
〃Yes； I can show you severaland； as usual； there is a difference in their colouring： from Lugarn； a little bit of lapis lazuli； lying like a jewel； in the green pastures； half way up the Alps； just below the ice and snow； to the reedy lake of Morat； on the plains of Neufchatel； more like an agate；〃 added Charlie； smiling。
〃We shall hope to see them； when we pass through New York；〃 said Elinor； listening with interest。
〃I will show them to you with great pleasure； faute de mieux； Miss Elinor； but I hope you will one day see the originals。〃
｛〃faute de mieux〃 = for want of something better （French）｝
〃In the mean time； however； we shall be very glad to enjoy your pictures。 Have you any Italian views？〃
〃Yes； quite a number； wherever I went； I made sketches at least； though I have not yet had time to finish them all as pictures。 In my boxes there are Venetian lagoons； and Dutch canals； a view of the Seine； in the heart of Paris； and the Thames； at London； the dirty； famous Tiber； classic Arno； and classic Avon。〃
〃You make our eyes water； Charlie； with such a catalogue；〃 said Mr。 Wyllys。 〃You must certainly get up an exhibition； and add several of your American pictures to those you have just brought home。〃
〃I really hope you will do so；〃 said Elinor。 〃The transparent amber…like water of the Canada； and the emerald colour of Niagara； would appear finely in such a collection。〃
｛〃Canada〃 = from the context； probably Trenton Falls on the West Canada Creek； a major tourist attraction during the 19th century｝
〃I shall never dare attempt Niagara；〃 exclaimed Charlie。 〃All the beauties of all the other waters in the world are united there。 It will not do to go beyond the rapids； I should be lost if I but ventured to the edge of the whirlpool itself。〃
〃I have no doubt you will try it yet；〃 said Harry。
The young artist shook his head。 〃I am sometimes disposed to throw aside the brush in disgust； at the temerity of man； which can attempt to copy even what is most noble； in the magnificent variety； and the simple grandeur of nature。〃
〃You have been sufficiently successful in what you have attempted hitherto；〃 said Harry。 〃I saw your view of Lake Ontario； in Philadelphia； just after I arrived； and I can never forget the impression it produced on me。 Of all your pictures that I have seen； that is my favourite。〃
〃It is indeed a noble picture；〃 said Mr。 Wyllys。
〃And few men but yourself； Charlie； could have given so deep an interest to a broad field of water； with only a strip of common…place shore in the fore…ground； and a bank of clouds in the distance。 A common painter would have thrown in some prettiness of art； that would have ruined it； but you have given it a simple dignity that is really wonderful！〃 said Hazlehurst。
〃You mortify me；〃 said Charlie； 〃it is so much inferior to what I could wish。〃
〃Captain C…；〃 continued Harry； 〃who was stationed at Oswego for several years； told me he should have known your picture without the name； for a view of one of the great lakes； there was so much truth in the colour and movement of the water； so much that was different from the Ocean。〃
〃Ladies and gentlemen； it is cruel in you to flatter a poor young artist at this rate；〃 said Charlie。
〃If it is criticism you want；〃 said Hazlehurst； 〃I can give you a dose。 You were very severely handled in my presence； a day or two since； and on the very subject of your picture of Lake Ontario。〃
〃Pray； let me hear the criticism； it will sober me。〃
〃What was the fault？〃 said Elinor； 〃what was wanting？〃
〃A few houses and a steamboat； to make it lively。〃
〃You are making up a good story； Mr。 Hazlehurst；〃 said Mrs。 Creighton； laughing。
〃I give you the critic's words verbatim。 I really looked at the young lady in astonishment； that she should see nothing but a want of liveliness in a picture； which most of us feel to be sublime。 But Miss L… had an old grudge against you； for not having made her papa's villa sufficiently prominent in your view of Hell…Gate。〃
〃But； such a villa！〃 said Hubbard。 〃One of the ugliest within ten miles of New York。 It is possible； sometimes； by keeping at a distance； concealing defects； and partially revealing columns through verdure； to make one of our Grecian…temple houses appear to advantage in a landscape； but； really； Mr。 D…'s villa was such a jumble； so entirely out of all just proportion； that I could do nothing with it； and was glad to find that I could put a grove between the spectator and the building： anybody but its inmates would have preferred the trees。〃
〃Not at all； Miss D… thought the absence of the portico； with its tall； pipe…stem columns； the row of dormer windows on the roof； and the non…descript belvidere crowning all； a loss to the public。〃
｛〃belvidere〃 = as used here； a raised turret on top of a house （Italian）｝
〃The miserable architecture of this country is an obstacle to a landscape painter； quite too serious to be trifled with； I can assure you；〃 said Charlie。
〃It must be confessed；〃 said Mr。 Ellsworth； 〃that the order of things has been reversed here。 Architecture is usually called the parent of the fine arts； but with us she is the youngest of the family； and as yet the worst endowed。 We had respectable pictures； long before we had a single building in a really good style； and now that we have some noble paintings and statuary； architecture still lags behind。 What a noise they made in New York； only a few years since； about St。 Thomas's Church！〃
｛St。 Thomas's Church〃 = St。 Thomas Episcopal Church was erected at the corner of Broadway and Houston Street； in New York City； in 1826； in the Gothic style which was only beginning to replace the Greek Revival。 Susan Fenimore Cooper shared her father's dislike of Greek Revival houses that imitated Grecian temples； and his love of the Gothic｝
〃Yes；〃 said Mr。 Stryker； 〃the curse of the genius of architecture； which Jefferson said had fallen upon this country； has not yet been removed。〃
〃Some of the most ludicrous objects I have ever laid my eyes on；〃 sa