But he could not succeed in
annoying her in that way, for her interest in him, which she could not
deny, was quite independent of his personal appearance.

The bustle, however, of dinner, and going on shore at Catskill, banished
from the doctor's head all thought of everything except the safety of
himself, his ladies, and their baggage.

Emily, whose nervous system was somewhat disordered, clung tremblingly
to Gertrude; and Gertrude found herself, she knew not how, leaning on
the arm of Mr. Phillips, to whose silent exertions they were both
indebted for their safety in disembarking. Mrs. Jeremy was counting up
the trunks, while her husband was loudly denouncing the steamboat, its
conductors, and the whole hurrying, skurrying Yankee nation.

Two stage-coaches were waiting at the wharf to take passengers up the
mountain, and before Dr. Jeremy had turned his back upon the river,
Emily and Gertrude were placed in one of them by Mr. Phillips, who,
without speaking, took this office upon himself, and then went to inform
the doctor of their whereabouts, and the doctor and his wife soon joined
them.

CHAPTER XXXV.

THE ROCK OF AGES.

Before they had gained the road leading to the Mountain House, they
became conscious of the vast difference between the temperature of the
river and that of the inland country, and, in being suddenly deprived of
the refreshing breeze they had enjoyed on board the boat, they fully
realised the extreme heat of the weather. For the first few miles
Gertrude's care was required to shield Emily and herself from the rays
of the burning sun; and it was a great relief when they reached the
beautifully-shaded road which led up the side of the mountain. The
atmosphere being clear, the gradually widening prospect was beautiful,
and Gertrude's delight was such that the restraint imposed by
stage-coach decorum was almost insupportable. When, therefore, the
ascent became so laborious that the gentlemen alighted to relieve the
weary horses, Gertrude gladly accepted Dr. Jeremy's proposal that she
should accompany him on a walk of a mile or two.

Gertrude was an excellent walker, and she and the active doctor soon
left the coaches far behind. At a sudden turn in the road they stopped
to view the scene below, and stood enjoying the stillness and beauty of
the spot, when they were startled by hearing a voice, saying, "A fine
landscape, certainly!"

It came from Mr. Phillips, seated upon a moss-grown