I defy you to match that," said my companion;
"not to say that you can hook a four-pound fish
from that little balcony on any summer evening
while you smoke your cigar."

"It is a lovely spot, indeed," said I, inhaling
with ecstasy the delicious perfume which, in the
calm night air, seemed to linger in the atmosphere.

"He tells me," continued my companion—
"and I take his word for it, for I am no florist
—that there are seventy varieties of the rose on
and around that cottage. I can answer for it,
that you can't open a window without a great
mass of flowers coming, in showers, over you. I
told him, frankly, that if I were his tenant for
longer than the fishing season, I'd clear half of
them away."

"You live there, then?" asked I, timidly.
"Yes; I rent the cottage, all but two rooms,
which he wished to keep for himself, but which
he now writes me word may be let, for this
month and the next, if a tenant offer. Would
you like them?" asked he, abruptly.

"Of all things—that is—I think so—I should
like to see them first!" muttered I, half startled
by the suddenness of the question.

"Nothing easier," said he, opening a little
wicket as he spoke, and beginning to ascend a
flight of narrow steps cut in the solid rock.
"This is a path of my designing," continued he;
"the regular approach is on the other side; but
this saves fully half a mile of road, though it be
a little steep."

As I followed him up the ascent, I proposed
to myself a variety of questions, such as, where
and how I was to procure accommodation for
the night, and in what manner to obtain something
to eat, of which I stood much in need?
and I had gained a little flower-garden at the
rear of the cottage before I could resolve any
of these difficult points.

"Here we are," said he, drawing a long
breath. " You can't see much of the view at
this hour; but to-morrow, when you stand on
this spot, and look down that reach of the river,
with Mont Alto in the background, you'll tell
me if you know anything finer!"

"ls that Edward?" cried a soft voice; and
at the same instant a young girl came hastily
out of the cottage, and throwing her arms
around my companion, exclaimed, "How you
have alarmed me! What could possibly have
kept you out so late?"

"A broad-shouldered fish, a fellow weighing
twelve pounds at the very least, and who, after
nigh three hours' playing, got among the rocks,
and smashed my tackle."

"And you lost him?"

"That did I, and some twenty yards of gut,
and the top splice of my best rod, and my
temper besides. But I'm forgetting: Mary, here
is a gentleman who will, I hope, not refuse to
join us at supper. —My sister."

By the manner of presentation, it was clear
that he expected to hear my name, and so I
interposed, "Mr. Potts-- Algernon Sydney
Potts."

The young lady curtseyed slightly, muttered
something like a repetition of the invitation,
and led the way into the cottage.

My astonishment was great at the " interior"
now before me, for though all the arrangements
bespoke habits of comfort and even luxury,
there was a studious observance of cottage style
in everything, the book-shelves, the tables, the
very pianoforte, being all made of white
unvarnished wood; and I now perceived that the
young lady herself, with a charming coquetry,
had assumed something of the costume of the
Oberland, and wore her bodice laced in front,
and covered with silver embroidery both tasteful
and becoming.

"My name is Crofton," said my host, as he
disengaged himself of his basket and tackle;
"we are almost as much strangers here as yourself.
I came here for the fishing, and mean to
take myself off when it's over."

"I hope not, Edward," broke in the girl,
who was now, with the assistance of a servant
woman, preparing the table for supper; "I hope
you'll stay till we see the autumn tints on those
trees."

"My sister is just as great an enthusiast
about sketching as I am for salmon-fishing,"
said he, laughingly; " and for my own part, I
like scenery and landscape very well, but think
them marvellously heightened by something like
sport. Are you an angler?"

"No," said I; " I know nothing of the gentle
craft."

"Fond of shooting, perhaps? Some men think
the two sports incompatible."

"I am as inexpert with the gun as the rod,"
said I, diffidently.

I perceived that the sister gave a sly look
under her long eyelashes towards me, but what
its meaning I could not well discover. Was
it depreciation of a man who avowed himself
unacquainted with the sports of the field, or
was it a quiet recognition of claims more worthy
of regard? At all events, I perceived that she
had very soft, gentle-looking grey eyes, a very
fair skin, and a profusion of beautiful brown
hair. I had not thought her pretty at first. I
now saw that she was extremely pretty, and
her figure, though slightly given to fulness, the
perfection of grace.

Hungry, almost famished as I was, with a
fast of twelve hours, I felt no impatience so
long as she moved about in preparation for the
meal. How she disposed the little table equipage,
the careful solicitude with which she
arranged the fruit and the flowers—not always
satisfied with her first dispositions, but changing
them for something different—all
interested me vastly, and when at last we were
summoned to table, I actually felt sorry and
disappointed.

Was it really so delicious, was the cookery
so exquisite? I own frankly that I am not a
trustworthy witness, but if my oath could be
taken, I am willing to swear that I believe there
never were such salmon steaks, such a pigeon-pie,
and such a damson-tart served to mortals