— 180 — 



In the distance are visible Seal Rocks, Goose and 

 Crane Islands ; further still, due north, Coudres Island ; 

 on the opposite shore, four or five leagues away, the 

 eternal, frowning range of lofty capes, the Laurentides, 

 blue in the distance, doing duty as a back-ground to 

 the glowing picture. 



The manor, now runuing to decay, is a comparatively 

 modern, a one-storied, high-peaked structure with two 

 wings projecting towards the entrance.. 



It traces back nearly to the era of the conquest ; 

 having been erected to replace the building burnt by 

 the English, in 1759. 



There was nothing remarkable about the style of this 

 second Manor, except that its uniform whiteness and 

 general neatness, brought it out agreeably, in relief 

 and as a contrast amidst the surrounding greenery and 

 orchards. 



A flower and vegetable garden, rows of fruit trees, 

 M. de Gaspe's pets, decked and overshadowed the 

 avenue leading to the front entrance. 



Silence, desertion, decay have now replaced careful 

 culture, the hum and bustle of life, the merry peel 

 of laughter, which of yore echoed in that blithsome 

 land, when M. de Gaspe's large family circle was 

 gathered there. 



I can recall the time when it was the abode, and 

 meeting-place of inmates and visitors as bright as they 

 were amiable : the laird's hospitality was unbounded ; 

 here met the families de Gaspe, de Lanaudiere, Baby 

 and others ; M. de Gaspe was the life and soul of every 

 family reunion. 



His buoyant spirits, sparkling conversation, bound- 

 less information on every subject, happy mode of 

 conveying it, were marvellous. 



When the conversation began to flag, he used to take 

 from the shelves of his well stocked library a volume 

 of Racine, of Moliere, or of Shakespeare, and keep our 



