APPROACHING THE MOUNTAINS. 27 



than you, Meier and what teeth he had white as 

 ivory !" 



Though all this was said half laughingly, there was 

 still some seriousness in the old housekeeper's manner, 

 and I could not help smiling at the praises bestowed 

 on this mountain Adonis. Meier took all her jokes 

 very quietly more so perhaps than he would have 

 done had they come from one not quite so elderly. 

 We still chatted around the fire for a time, and then 

 went upstairs to rest, where to my surprise I found 

 two excellent beds in readiness, instead of clean hay, 

 as I had expected. One look at the night, to see 

 what promise for the morning, and then to sleep. 



