A HAPPY VALLEY 235 



the Alps for a gallon of buttermilk and a pone of Margaret's 

 corn bread. Out upon Brillat-Savarin, even though born at 

 Belley! If the wine were better I would drink to the whole 

 race of darkey cooks, now and forever." Humiliated by this 

 animal outbreak, the travellers were inclined to beg the great 

 monarch in the distance to forgive the lese majeste, and finally, 

 with the sense that carnal thoughts, though bound up with the 

 remembrance of home, had taken the bloom off the rose, the 

 line of march was resumed in a happy though less exalted 

 state of mind. 



In his wanderings through the Jura a discovery was made 

 which gave Mr. Shaler almost as much pleasure as some of the 

 facts that he gained of his science. Without reference to other 

 considerations he chose the village of X. as a convenient point 

 of departure for geological excursions, notwithstanding the 

 railway had left the village rather wide of the travellers' mark. 

 But a good hotel, reduced to the pension stage of existence, 

 offered comfortable entertainment. Moreover, there was no 

 crowd, no noise, no confusion ; bees hummed about the flowers, 

 the cattle grazed peacefully on the mountain-slopes, and the 

 church clock sounded the hours with silvery tongue, though it 

 must be confessed it grew hoarse under the stress of announcing 

 the twenty-fourth hour. It was a happy valley, overflowing 

 with milk and honey. After a week spent at this restful spot, 

 forsaking the diligence, we entered the train that was to trans- 

 port us to other regions. In the same compartment there 

 chanced to be a young English couple who, seeing Mr. Shaler 

 from time to time consult his map, ventured to question him 

 about the country. They seemed to be wandering about in a 

 maze without ultimate point of destination ; but the fact, which 

 with flaunting nonchalance they endeavored to conceal, that 

 they were bride and bridegroom, enlightened him as to their ro- 

 mantic needs. So immediately with his irresistible enthusiasm 

 he described the charms of the deserted village of X., although 

 he had to admit it was a trifle stagnant; still at this happy 



