80 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



are all ; the very maidens look upon a hunter's life as 

 the most enviable lot that could fall to the share of 

 man ; and the daring climber, the skilful stalker, and 

 the sure shot, are sure of due appreciation at their 

 hands. All such do they hold in high honour. They 

 speak of their brothers with genuine sisterly pride, 

 and right pleasant it is to hear them. 



At the same moment with ourselves these daughters 

 entered the room of the cottage. They had, it seems, 

 been to a neighbouring village wake, and had only just 

 returned. It was dark when we came in, but now a 

 light was brought ; and as I turned suddenly to look 

 at her whose voice and friendly manner had already 

 prepossessed me, I was struck by the beauty that was 

 close beside me, and bursting at once upon me through 

 the dispersing gloom. It took me by surprise, and 

 she must have been other than a woman not to have 

 rightly interpreted my long astonished gaze. There 

 was not even a shade of coquetry about her ; if there 

 had been, she would have kept on her becoming green 

 hat a minute or two longer ; but she smiled on seeing 

 the mischief she had done, and with friendly words 

 inquired where we had been. 



She was of commanding height, this fine-featured 

 second sister, and the long dark-coloured cloth cloak 

 made her look still taller. It was simply drawn to- 

 gether at the throat; and, falling in natural folds 

 closely over her shoulders, gave dignity to the figure 

 without preventing you from discovering the outline 

 of the womanly form. On her head she wore the 



