nvey your
botanical treasures to Lisbon, and we will have to charter a vessel
there to carry them home. Dr. Graham's study will not contain all you
collect for him. You must have exhausted the neighborhood."

"In one sense I am afraid we have. Colonel L'Isle tells me that we
have explored almost every part of the country immediately around
Elvas."

"I am sorry we are tied down to this one spot," said her father. "As
you have never been from home before, I would wish you to see as much
as possible of this country. But I must stick close to the brigade, at
hand for orders at any moment."

"I must be content," said Lady Mabel. "And, after all, it is better to
see one place thoroughly, than to take a hasty glance at a dozen in
the style of common-place travelers."

"I confess I am but a common-place traveler," said Mrs. Shortridge,
"and would like to see a new place every day; though I have, I own,
found more variety and amusement in exploring the neighborhood than I
expected."

"You will shortly have an opportunity, Mrs. Shortridge," said L'Isle,
"of visiting a very striking place by merely accompanying the
commissary. He thinks of going to Evora to purchase cattle and grain
for the troops, and Evora is well worth seeing, as well as the country
you pass through in going thither."

"Ah! I would like the jaunt very much. But I did not know that the
commissary was going thither."

"He is going, and you might accompany him," said L'Isle. "You could
not indeed make the journey in your coach if you had one, for off this
high road, from Lisbon to Madrid, there is scarcely a carriage-road in
the country. But you are now quite at home, on the back of your
sure-footed mule."

The truth was, L'Isle had himself suggested to the commissary that the
country south of Evora was rich and productive, and that prices had
not been raised there by the vicinity of the troops, and the demands
of their market. At the same time he gave Shortridge to understand
that he wished to get up a party to visit Evora, and Lady Mabel must
be included in it.

"I will ask the commissary to-night when he is going," said Mrs.
Shortridge; "and to take me with him, if he can."

Lady Mabel had listened with silent interest so far; but here she
broke in upon their conference, just as L'Isle desired.

"Why, Mrs. Shortridge," she exclaimed, with a well-feigned air of one
deeply wronged, "do you mean to desert me? After partaking of my
pleasant excursio