246 ARDENMOHR. 



On the evening of the 6th November we returned 

 to Ardenmohr. 



" Again," said Ward, as we came to the lodge; 

 "the dear old place, once more. Does it not look 

 so homelike ? " And really it was a pleasure to 

 come into the old dining-room, illuminated as it 

 was with one of Janet Cameron's brightest wood 

 fires, and every one seeming so glad to see us back 

 again. 



Two days' rambling and preparations, and then 



We had bid farewell to Ardenmohr, and were 

 driving south to the busy scenes of life. 



" "Well," said Ward (as he drew his plaid closer on 

 this cool November morning), " people assert that no 

 one would care to live his life over a second time. 

 I, for one, wish the last three months were to begin 

 again." 



" Come, don't mope about small matters, old 

 fellow," the Major said, " and give us that rhyme, 

 after the old masters, you composed the other night 

 Herrick, or some such worthy, I think was your 

 model ; nothing is so healthy for the mind as shelving 

 self often and looking a little to others there's a 

 platitude for you." 



"Ho ho! Major; paternal instincts already," 



