398 SHORT STALKS 



all fear of glacier pools and loose stones being at an end, 

 I believe I went soundly asleep as I walked, and dreamt 

 comfortable dreams of trout, and cutlets, and champagne. 

 Once or twice I faintly suggested spending the rest of the 

 night where we were, but the idea was treated with scorn 

 by my more persistent companions, and I trudged on, 

 a hungry somnambulist, until at last l>road daylight and 

 pleasant anticipation cjuickened the sleepy blood and 

 lifted the heavy eyelids. At half- past five we entered 

 Bertolini's, and then — may his shadow never grow less 

 — my dreams were more than realised. 



After this the weather forbade any more high expedi- 

 tions, and I returned liome over the pass of Mont Cenis 

 in the diligence, enjoying by the way an experience which, 

 I venture to think, is rather uncommon. At Susa I 

 secured my place in the coupe, the other corner being 

 occupied by a neat little French damsel. Two is company 

 but three is none. At the last moment a German baoman 

 o-ot in and wedo-ed himself between us. His diameter 

 was large, and his odour of garlic offended me. Indeed 

 his presence there at all was superfluous. I hoped to 

 console myself with sleep, but this was impossible, for 

 these two talked incessantly the whole night through. 

 She was a dressmaker, and he '' travelled " in ribbons and 

 buttons, so they had a liond of union to start with. More 

 and more voluble waxed their talk as we toiled up the 

 ziozaf'S ; and as we rattled down on the French side 

 their mutual confidences became quite embarrassing to a 

 shy man like myself. Finally, about six o'clock in the 

 morning, totally disregarding my presence, he offered her 

 his hand and his fortune. If he did not throw liimself into 



