384 PHCEBE ELLIOT. 



much useful information, respecting the most kill- 

 ing flies to be used in the river before us, and he 

 was in the act of shewing me some deposited in 

 an old tin snuff-box, when it suddenly occurred to 

 me, that I must have considerably delayed the 

 " ranz des vaches y ' beyond its usual time. My 

 conjecture was soon confirmed, and my ears dis- 

 agreeably greeted by the shrill tones of a female 

 tongue,, calling my truant companion to account 

 for his loitering. 



The form to which this voice, loud as a trumpet, 

 but with " no silver sound/' belonged, appeared 

 on the opposite side of the river, which at this spot 

 was narrow. This was a happy circumstance for 

 my fat friend, as otherwise there would probably 

 have been more than a war of words. As it was, 

 the luckless cause of the uproar, casting a rueful 

 glance at me, proceeded in double quick time, to 

 drive home the tranquil herd, who appeared quite 

 unconscious of the pelting of the storm, which fell 

 in such a torrent of bitter words from the lips of 

 their ungentle mistress. I walked a few steps 

 with my quondam companion, feeling real sym- 

 pathy in the distress of which I had been the 

 involuntary cause. " Your mistress seems rather 

 cross to-night/' I remarked, in a comforting tone, 

 having always found that abuse of the offending 

 party is the best way of administering consolation. 

 " Cross !" said the lad, and the expression of his 



