160 ARDENMOHR. 



" Wonderful!" said Ward, after a trial; "most 

 wonderful! a combined aroma of grouse, truffles, 

 flowers, and mountain-breeze. What can it be, 

 Major ? " 



" Simply the broken game, grouse, hare, and 

 wild-fowl, too much smashed to be kept; their 

 juices extracted in Meg's cauldron, and artistically 

 developed into this fragrant soup. Do you like 

 it, Fred ? " 



" Yes ; and like Oliver Twist, I must ask for 

 more." 



" Sensible boy ! " 



Following this potent soup, came fried trout, 

 haricot, and the first grouse of the season, flanked 

 with Burgundy and sparkling Hock, and we had 

 dined. Burmah never overloads a table : to be 

 sure, besides having natural genius, he has had 

 civilised training. 



After dinner we had coffee outside, and cigars 

 in the gloamin. 



"So, Hope, you enjoyed gr ouse- shooting ?" I 

 remarked. 



"Yes, every way. The climbing these rough 

 slopes, the wild scenery, and pure air would be 

 charming, even without the fine sport; and I can 



