THE SOLACHERS 83 



him. The Countess D * * * and her daughters would 

 also remain here for weeks together ; they enjoyed the 

 beautiful scenery around, and loved the simplicity and 

 kindly-proffered service of their peasant hostesses. 

 Nor do I wonder they so liked them, for gentle-man- 

 nered they are all. 



The cottage is their own, and the pasturage around 

 it, as well as the trout-stream that runs beside the 

 garden. The building is low, having only one story 

 and the ground-floor; but it is roomy, and, like all 

 houses built of wood, extremely warm. It had been 

 bought and given to them by a few of the gentlemen 

 who used to stay there, in proof of their regard for 

 the worthy old forester, and as a means of rendering 

 a lasting service to his family. They spoke of the 

 circumstance with evident satisfaction, and perfect 

 freedom from all false shame; on the contrary, they 

 rightly looked on the gift as an honourable token how 

 much their father had been respected. The beams 

 and wainscot of the room where we sat were dark 

 with age; the usual bench ran round the sides, as 

 well as round the stove, which occupied a large space ; 

 and in one corner was a small square table where we 

 sat and supped. 



When I went out into the kitchen I found Berger 

 busily occupied with Nanny, the second sister, in pre- 

 paring our meal. As usual he was full of fun ; and 

 while making the dumplings, or boiling the potatoes, 

 he was joking with his pretty helpmate, and laughing 

 so heartily that it was quite a pleasure to hear him. 



G 2 



