148 ARDENMOHR. 



any day, but to test in succession the capabilities 

 of every range. 



"Yours is a good plan, Abbott," the Major 

 said, " to work the outlying beats first, so long 

 as they afford tolerable sport ; meanwhile it is 

 driving the birds inwards." 



" Well, I think so ; and with plenty birds near 

 home, and little disturbed on these rough grounds, 

 one can always get some although I think the 

 wildness of birds to be more a matter of season 

 than of shooting." 



After dinner every one was presently engaged 

 with a fresh packet of books and papers until 

 nearly dark; and I observed the Major chuckling 

 over some pungency in the Saturday Review, and 

 "Ward in the thick of a novel. 



" What is your book, Ward ? " I inquired, 



" < Monte Christo,' and strange enough I have 

 never read it. How cleverly these French writers 

 do shape their plots ! " he remarked. 



" Well, what I like in French authors of the 

 best sort is their neat dialogue. I don't mind 

 plots much ; and there is a personality or feeling of 

 acquaintance with the persons and places of some 

 writers which is to me a great charm." 



