IN THE NORTH COUNTRY 



ness of speech and dulness of hearing hindered 

 him from keeping pace with the animated con- 

 versation going on around him, but there are 

 compensations along all lines ; his vision was still 

 clear and he had ample opportunity for observa- 

 tion. No doubt many a long day had passed since 

 he had been able to contribute any but the merest 

 of commonplaces to the conversation of the vil- 

 lagers, but his was the prestige of introducing the 

 bewitching little stranger from tropical lands to 

 the circles at the entrance of the pilgrim village. 



So engrossed were they in their own particu- 

 lar discussions that they did not notice the old 

 man as he hobbled forward to meet us, and so 

 loud and animated were their tones that they 

 heard neither his eager questions nor my neces- 

 sarily high-pitched answers. 



" Ahj la belle p'tite bete que vous-avez la, 

 madame! Et comment est-ce quelle s'appelle 

 done? " 



Unbounded delight on hearing that her name 

 is Fifine. Its selection no doubt appeared to him 

 like a tribute to his entire nation. 



" Mais elle est fine pour le sure' 1 he exclaimed, 

 laying a caressing hand on the soft, little head. 

 " And her age, madame? " 



[237] 



