178 ARDENMOHR. 



" And what do you say to all this, Miss Olive?" 

 Annie inquired. 



" Oh ! I can hardly judge," she replied demurely; 

 " I never use ice." 



When the ladies left the table, Hope said he 

 thought Oharley Olive could use ice in very cooling 

 knobs, if it suited her. 



On going to the drawing-room we found a sleepy 

 party after their long journey, too sleepy for whist ; 

 and they retired early. 



Next morning the weather was beautiful ; and it 

 was quite a novel pleasure to hear the sweet gay 

 voices of the girls about the Lodge. Let me try 

 to describe our guests. 



First in honour, Mrs. Peyton, stout, comely, and 

 debonnaire, as beseemeth a British matron ; had, 

 nevertheless, a certain haughty presence, which was 

 entirely belied by her real, simple, kindly nature ; 

 for, grave and sensible as she was, no one could 

 better enjoy pleasantry, and her quick appreciation 

 and ready sympathy soon taught us to confide 

 with her in any quiz or droll event as freely as 

 we should have done in sorrow or difficulty. 



Neither Major Duncan nor I had before seen 

 Miss Peyton ; and, certainly, it would be hard to 



