at all strange," said she, tartly. "He was always very stupid, and
constantly falls into mistakes, in which he comes worse off; and it is
very well he does, for he is a credulous and cowardly fellow. Not at all
strange! If you will"--turning to her husband, so that I hardly heard
her words, until I caught--"Then everybody would have their rights, and
we should have no more trouble. Is it not, monsieur?" addressing me.

"If I were in England, I should imagine madame was speaking of the
reform bill, or the millennium,--but I am in ignorance."

And just as I spoke, the great folding-doors were thrown open wide, and
every one started to their feet to greet a little old lady, leaning on a
thin black wand--and--

"Madame la Feemarraine," was announced by a chorus of sweet shrill
voices.

And in a moment I was lying in the grass close by a hollow oak-tree,
with the slanting glory of the dawning day shining full in my face, and
thousands of little birds and delicate insects piping and warbling out
their welcome to the ruddy splendour.

SIX WEEKS AT HEPPENHEIM.

After I left Oxford, I determined to spend some months in travel before
settling down in life. My father had left me a few thousands, the income
arising from which would be enough to provide for all the necessary
requirements of a lawyer's education; such as lodgings in a quiet part
of London, fees and payment to the distinguished barrister with whom I
was to read; but there would be small surplus left over for luxuries or
amusements; and as I was rather in debt on leaving college, since I had
forestalled my income, and the expenses of my travelling would have to
be defrayed out of my capital, I determined that they should not exceed
fifty pounds. As long as that sum would last me I would remain abroad;
when it was spent my holiday should be over, and I would return and
settle down somewhere in the neighbourhood of Russell Square, in order
to be near Mr. ----'s chambers in Lincoln's-inn. I had to wait in London
for one day while my passport was being made out, and I went to examine
the streets in which I purposed to live; I had picked them out, from
studying a map, as desirable; and so they were, if judged entirely by
my reason; but their aspect was very depressing to one country-bred, and
just fresh from the beautiful street-architecture of Oxford. The thought
of living in such a monotonous gray district for years made me all the
more anxious to prolong my