those words with a melodious drawl. '' My
friend, Sir Charles, who brought, me to Thun in
his carriage, tried to persuade me to remain at
the Bellevue. Charming house, excellent table,
magnificent view, good society! Quite, in short,
my style of thing, sir. But, although the Freienhof
is only second-rate, I had promised to go
there — promised, sir. And when a lady is in the
case———-"

"Hang the fellow and his confidential talk!"
I grumbled to myself. " What a nuisance, to
be so interrupted! At such an interesting
moment, too!" So raising my hat, I coldly answered,
" You have only to go straight forward; take
the first turn to the left, and you will reach the
Freienhof."

"Much obleeged; very much indeed," he
rejoined, with treacley suavity. "Such kindness
to an utter stranger! Pray do me the honour
to accept, my card. You are doubtless at the
Bellevue? You are not going to the Freienhof?"

"No, I am not, sir," I fear I growled; internally
adding, " until I think proper."

"I thank you very much. This way, I think?"
And. with a honeyed bow, he took his leave.

"Mr. Percy Howard!" I muttered, looking at
the card, which I had not been able to avoid
receiving. "Every Howard kins with Norfolk's
duke. For me, you are too mealy-mouthed.
But what has become of the other parties?"
I had not very long to wait. As I expected,
the father and daughter had taken the wrong
turn, and were now retracing their steps. She
did not seem in the least surprised to find me
lingering there; nor did he, for he had never
given me a thought. Now, or never, was the
time to make an attempt at something.

" Pray excuse me, sir," I said, a little flurried,
"but I think I overheard you mentioning
the Freienhof Hotel. I am staying there,
and this is the way to it. You can reach it
almost immediately. But it is still two hours to
the table d'hôte dinner; and if— if you are not
too tired, there is a wonderful prospect close at
hand, which will well repay you for the trouble
of mounting to it!"

"Indeed! What do you say, Maria? Do
you think you can manage a little climbing?"

"I should like it above all things. Ever since
I caught sight of it, I have been wishing to get
a better view of that brilliant white mountain—
the Blümlisalp, I think."

"Very well, my dear. Let us go to the inn,
and ask them for a guide to the spot which
the gentleman is so obliging as to——-"

"Quite needless, sir," I interposed. " I was
proceeding there when I saw you pass [a freak
of fancy ordinarily known as a fib]; and, if you
allow me, I will lead the way."

"Is it far?" the papa replied. "Is it steep?"

'' Neither one nor the other. To reach the
point of view, we have only to mount this long
covered staircase by a series of low steps which
are suited almost for children's feet. Is the
young lady beginning to feel tired?"

"Not in the least. But if I were, here is a
landing-place which will give us a minute's
breathing. How curious! It is the centre of
five different staircases, some running up, and
some taking you down."

"This one is ours. Let us follow it. We
have reached the cemetery, and have no further
to climb. We have only a few steps to take on
level ground; and now, if you please, look
forward."

"How beautiful!" she exclaimed, after a
few moments' pause; "I had no idea, until
now, that the earth was capable of so much
beauty. Never, never shall I forget this day."
After gazing again at the view, she bestowed on
me a look of thankfulness which was worth all
the compliments in the world. This noble sight,
enjoyed in common, had set its seal on our
companionship. We had already grown almost
intimate. It was understood between us two that
we were friends, if not something more.

"It certainly is fine," assented the senior.
"Mr. Howard would describe it in his most
flowery style."

"Yes," said Maria, "he would indeed; for
he is not afraid to talk about what he does not
understand. He confounds Romans with Greeks;
and, on being made aware of his mistake, slips
out of it by calling them both the ancients."

"You are prejudiced, my dear, against him.
You must try and get over your dislike. I
wonder, by the way, if he has arrived."

In Swiss travel there is a peculiarity which is
pleasant or not, according to circumstances.
If you are there on any social speculation, to
marry off your daughters, to make acquaintances
you would not be likely to pick up at home, to
light upon friends by unexpected chances, you
can't have a better place of meeting, nor a surer
rendezvous; but if your real aim be the beauties
of nature, to be enjoyed in poetic retirement
and quiet, you are liable to interruption.

The fact is, that, as everybody except the
climbers of unclimbed peaks is pursuing a beaten
track from which there is little deviation, if you
meet an individual once, you are almost sure to
fall in with him again. On steamer, in diligence,
at glacier foot, by waterfall, you find faces which
have accompanied you throughout your itinerary.
If you do the Wengern Alp, they go too; if
you go to sec the Giessbach illuminated, you
behold there physiognomies which you have
already beheld reflecting daylight at Lucerne,
Berne, or lnterlacken. If you like the faces,
well and good; if you don't, their tracking your
heels so closely becomes wearisome. The only
means of escape from such comrades is to stop
somewhere for a week, and let the stream pass.
The summer current will bring in a supply
fresh from the inexhaustible springs of British
life.

In this way, even before they entered
Switzerland, my charmer's father had picked up Mr.
Howard; while Mr. Howard had not the least
intention to loose his hold of his new acquaintance.