the rose on and
around that cottage. I can answer for it that you can't open a window
without a great mass of flowers coming in showers over you. I told him,
frankly, that if I were his tenant for longer than the fishing-season, I
'd clear half of them away."

"You live there, then?" asked I, timidly.

"Yes, I rent the cottage, all but two rooms, which he wished to keep for
himself, but which he now writes me word may be let, for this month and
the next, if a tenant offer. Would you like them?" asked he, abruptly.

"Of all things--that is--I think so--I should like to see them first!"
muttered I, half startled by the suddenness of the question.

"Nothing easier," said he, opening a little wicket as he spoke, and
beginning to ascend a flight of narrow steps cut in the solid rock.
"This is a path of my designing," continued he; "the regular approach is
on the other side; but this saves fully half a mile of road, though it
be a little steep."

As I followed him up the ascent, I proposed to myself a variety of
questions, such as, where and how I was to procure accommodation for the
night, and in what manner to obtain something to eat, of which I stood
much in need? and I had gained a little flower-garden at the rear of the
cottage before I had resolved any of these difficult points.

"Here we are," said he, drawing a long breath. "You can't see much of
the view at this hour; but to-morrow, when you stand on this spot, and
look down that reach of the river, with Mont Alto in the background, you
'll tell me if you know anything finer!"

"Is that Edward?" cried a soft voice; and at the same instant a young
girl came hastily out of the cottage, and, throwing her arms around my
companion, exclaimed, "How you have alarmed me! What could possibly have
kept you out so late?"

"A broad-shouldered fish, a fellow weighing twelve pounds at the very
least, and who, after nigh three hours' playing, got among the rocks and
smashed my tackle."

"And you lost him?"

"That did I, and some twenty yards of gut, and the top splice of my
best rod, and my temper, besides. But I 'm forgetting; Mary, here is
a gentleman who will, I hope, not refuse to join us at supper.--My
sister."

By the manner of presentation, it was clear that he expected to hear my
name, and so I interposed, "Mr. Potts,--Algernon Sydney Potts."

The young lady courtesied slightly, muttered something like a repetition
of the invitation, and led the way into the