CHAPTER XXVI. 



A SURPRISE A SERENADE A VISIT FROM STRANGERS AN 



INVITATION TO BREAKFAST A FASHIONABLE HOUR AND A 

 BOUNTIFUL BILL OF FARE. 



THE evening was calm, and the lake slept in stirless 

 beauty before us. The shadows of the mountains reached 

 far out from the shore, lieing like a dark mantle upon the 

 surface of the waters, above and beneath which the stars 

 twinkled and glowed like the bright eyes of seraphs looking 

 down from the arches above, and up from the depths below. 

 The moon in her brightness sailed majesticaliy up into the 

 sky, throwing her silver light across the bosom of the lake ; 

 millions of fireflies flashed their tiny torches along the reedy 

 shore ; the solemn voices of the night birds came from out 

 the forest ; the call of the raccoon and the answer, the 

 hooting of the owl, and the low murmur of the leaves, stirred 

 by the light breeze that moved lazily among the tree-tops, 

 old familiar music to us, were heard. This latter sound is 

 always heard, even in the stillest and calmest nights. There 



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