by the graceful delicacy of the little ones,
who tripped away ere we could reward them; neither could I avoid
remarking to Laura, on the perfect good understanding that seemed to
subsist between Pere Jose and the children of his flock--the paternal
fondness on one side, and the filial reverence on the other. As we
conversed thus, we came in front of a great arched doorway, in a curtain
wall connecting two massive fragments of rock. In front lay a deep
fosse, traversed by a narrow wall, scarce wide enough for one person to
venture on. Below, the tangled weeds and ivy concealed the dark abyss,
which was full eighty feet in depth.

'Look up, now,' said Laura; 'you must bear the features of this spot in
mind to understand the story. Don't forget where that beam projects--do
you mark it well?'

'He'll get a better notion of it from the tower,' said the _pere_,
'Shall I assist you across?'

Without any aid, however, Laura trod the narrow pathway, and hasted
along up the steep and time-worn steps of the old tower. As we emerged
upon the battlements, we stood for a moment, overcome by the splendour
of the prospect. Miles upon miles of rich landscape lay beneath us,
glittering in the red, brown, and golden tints of autumn--that gorgeous
livery which the year puts on, ere it dons the sad-coloured mantle of
winter. The great forest, too, was touched here and there with that
light brown, the first advance of the season; while the river reflected
every tint in its calm tide, as though it also would sympathise with the
changes around it.

While the Pere Jose continued to point out each place of mark or note
in the vast plain, interweaving in his descriptions some chance bit of
antiquarian or historic lore, we were forcibly struck by the thorough
intimacy he possessed with all the features of the locality, and could
not help complimenting him upon it.

'Yes, '_ma foi_,' said he, 'I know every rock and crevice, every old tree
and rivulet for miles round. In the long life I have passed here, each
day has brought me among these scenes with some traveller or other; and
albeit they who visit us here have little thought for the picturesque,
few are unmoved by this peaceful and lovely valley. You'd little
suspect, mademoiselle, how many have passed through my hands here, in
these five-and-thirty years. I keep a record of their names, in which I
must beg you will kindly inscribe yours.'

Laura blushed at the proposition which should t