1 82 ARDENMOHR. 



"Now, pray, young people, don't hurry," said 

 Fred (as the girls started up to get ready); "the 

 tackle and things must be sent on first to the loch." 



"Annie," inquired Ward, "can Miss Clive go 

 on foot ? " 



"Ask her." 



"Pray, Miss Clive," he said, "can you walk 

 well, as you can get a quiet pony, and the loch 

 is some distance away?" 



" Is the climbing very bad ? for I had some 

 practice in Savoy last year ; but the heather may be 

 too much." 



" Ha ! Alpine climber ! Miss Clive ; then any- 

 thing here, even the ptarmigan range, will be mere 

 sauntering to you ; and Annie is a don at walking, 

 so you will both see Ardenmohr properly." 



Every one now prepared to go out; and the 

 young ladies presently came equipped in plain 

 looped-up dresses and stout shoes, with the heels 

 in the proper place. 



"Get me a stick, Fred, please," Annie said; 

 " and an alpenstock, or something, for Miss Clive." 



"Thank you," Charley remarked, "a switch will 

 do ; I like to walk free, when practicable." 



And we started. Our gay party, fairly out on the 



