that hung at the side of folding gates, and, winding
her way up a walk bordered with shrubs and flowers,
approached the dwelling, that stood upon a knoll.
At that moment the sound of a cowbell in the con-
tiguous mountain coppice told the slow approach of a
dappled dairy, in charge of a swarthy French Cana-
dian youth. All else was quiet about the place, that
seemed to be lying in a sort of listless, half dreamy
tranquillity and halcyon repose. The mansion itself
was spacious, and built of the grey limestone of the
district. Woodbine and hop, clematis and the Vir-
ginia creeper half concealed its rugged exterior, and
clothed in tangled luxuriance the verandah that
extended along the front. The roof was covered
with shingles, painted red; and in it were a number
of dormer windows, which, like all the other win-
dows, were hidden with closed green blinds or shut-
ters. Swallows were darting about the eaves, and
wheeling around a fountain and jet d'eau in front,
that were fed by a mountain spring behind the
house; whilst from one of the rather numerous chim-
neys a frail wreath of blue smoke crept, and
lingered lazily about the lightning rod, before it
rose and melted away into the pure evening sky.
But by this time the lap-dog had come forwards to
meet her, and now ran in advance, emitting a fitful
and joyous bark; and as she ascended the steps the
door was opened by a servant, who, having admitted
her, closed it again; but not before a stranger might,
from without, have witnessed a fair and youthful fe-
male figure swiftly descend the stairs into the hall,
and, throwing her arms around the neck of the re-
turned traveller, greet her with an affectionate sa-

[[13]]

p012 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p013w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p014

v?