A CHARMING FAMILY. 519 



besides ourselves, and the parson managed to 

 ingratiate himself with an old lady who, with three 

 pretty daughters and an invalid brother, had driven 

 over from Gmunden. Not being a shy man, or 

 burdened with an extraneous stock of diffidence, I 

 followed suit, and never had I more reason to be 

 satisfied with my luck, for our new acquaintance 

 turned out to be a charming family. After having 

 explored the neighbourhood and surveyed the falls 

 from every point of view, we sat down to luncheon 

 under the trees, and our hostess, hearing we were 

 also bound to Gmunden, would not hear of our 

 going by rail, but insisted on our accompanying 

 them in their carriages. I always give way to a 

 lady, for — 



" When tliey will, they ^vill, you may depend on't ; 

 And if they wont, they wont, and there's an end on't." 



AYe had a very jolly afternoon, reaching Gmun- 

 den by sunset; and, as there was no room in the 

 '* Bellevue," we put up at the " Goldenen Shiff," 

 opposite the pier, a good house, the landlord of 

 which did his utmost to make us comfortable. 

 Gmunden is charmingly situated on the Traunsee, 



