ellent host-His substantial partner-Contented minds-Picturesque court-Songless nightingales-Conscription-H. C.'s modesty-Our host appreciative but personal-Bears the torch of genius-A

n. As we went on this grew fainter by degrees, yet did not cease. H. C. collected his thoughts and looked

up to the inn, where I should have arrived like another C?sar. My volume of Lyrics is worth this recognition if they have rendered all the fire and spirit of its theme, beauty of language, charm of rhythm and rhyme. Above all, my de

found it a tug-of-war. "The people would have had some trouble in dra

oach up the Matterhorn, and succeed or perish in the attempt. But these people evidently have some other object in

own. Crossing the bridge over the river we noticed everywhere an unusual crowd of people, flaring lamps and torches, a sea of

and visions of the Middle Ages. We looked down the tree-lined boulevard and felt the very word a desecration of the buried centuries. The broad thoroughfare ran beside the river, and the

tion. We lamented our fate in visiting Gerona at such a time, but in the end it interfered v

or sound of excitement or flaming torches. All was delightfully dead as the most

before us-broad white marble stairs that bore witness to a very different destiny in days gone by, the pomp and splendour of life, the glory of the world. At the head of this sumptuous staircase our host met us with a polite bow and welcome; and throughout Spain we never met landlord more intelligent and well-informed, more agreeable and anxiously civil. We were puzzl

friction and no noise, but everything came up to time. He was last in bed at night, first up in the morning. A tall, thin, dark man, with an expression of face in which there was no trace of impatient fretting at life. If wealth had not come to him (we knew not how that was), evil days had passed him

to perfect himself in the language, which he was good enough to consider difficult and barbarous. "French," he plaintively observed, "is pronounced very much as it i

n, for we had accepted his polite offer to guide us;

ind the counter of her little bureau, she looked the picture of an amiable Dutch vrouw. Nothing less than a Frank Hals could h

many uses, level with the first floor, bounded on one side by the kitchen, on the other by the dining-room, at right angles with each other. A picturesque court with a slightly Italian atmosphere about it, due perhaps to the sunny landscapes. Orange and small eucalyptus trees stood a

es, and night and day the street echoes with the nightingales' song. You may close your eyes and fancy yourself in the heart of a wood. I have often done so, and dreamed I was in my Italian ho

sidered very nearly as sacred as those of St. Mark's, for they we

t to learn the many virtues of our host. We only

LEVARD:

year at the fair we were full to overflowing-not an available hole or corner to spare. This year we are comparatively empty, simply because the t

annual f

day. That and the next day are comparatively quiet; the day after comes the horse and cattle fair, an

e within forty-eight hours. The train which bro

t will not be more welcome," said ou

re marching up to their stable. This passage led to a salon, out of which one of our bedrooms opened; our host had given us of his best. Placing one of the candles down and lighting others, he turned to

ve to work with a machine, and the machine is not strong enough to light the whole town. That is why I don't ha

"we were told it had to do with conscription. At one

occasion who knows? Raw recruits as they are, many may get drafted off to Cuba, with small chance of ever seeing their native land again. Luckily they are more full of excitement at the change of life and scene than of regret at

ona poetical?" asked H

you mean to ask if they write poetry, like Dan

d appreciate the poetry of others? There was a moment when I t

ce divined his meaning. We invariably found that he guessed things by intu

it was not a bitter awakening. Still, I am enchanted to make the acquaintance of an English poet. I once saw and spoke to Mr. Browning in Italy. He did not look to me at all poetical. One pictures a poe

s; our host though flattering

e newspapers and know the leading events of every country; for though I live out of the world, I

rose up before him. "I hope to be so in time. At present I am rather young to

st I conclude so, in spite of your diaphanous form and spiritual regard; and I bethink me that time flies in talking, and we shall have di

e III. my favourite repast is boiled mutton and apple dumplings; and like the king I have never been able to understand how the apples get inside the pastry. That does not affect their fl

look upon it as the torch of genius," said the latter, "and I am proud to bear it. But

took their meals; and once or twice, casting a glance in passing, it was a pleasure to see how madame's broad buxom face and capacious form was doing justice to the good things

f disorder. Even H. C.'s capacious appetite would have fled at the aspect of things. From a door beyond opening to t

llen in strange places, when the landlord appeared at the

e we place below the salt, as I have read in some of your English books. I put up with them because it would not answer me to have three rooms. And t

rming, as H. C. observed, and defects became virtues. The room was well illuminated with gas, whatever might be going on in the streets; to no tenebrous repast were we invited. The linen was snow-white. Our host's daugh

shing down upon him like a Himalaya mountain upon a sand-hill. They would take their seat at a table, the lady with a great deal of difficult arranging, and the little husband would gaze up at the huge wife with adoration in his eyes, as proudly as if

ared at each other on passing a dish or the wine of the country, which was supplied ad libitum. What the entente cordiale or bone of contention we never discovered; every meal they kept to their silent programme, until it became almost oppressive. Once or twice we thought they were perhaps monks of La Trappe in dis

ngularly handsome face and magnificent head. The system of serving was different from most hotels. Dishes were not handed round, but every person or party had placed before them their own dish, of which each took as much or as little as th

of black coffee mixed with brandy; the latter half a century old and almost as mild as milk, its healing properties sovereign. The priest, we say, sat next, and we almost resented his not leaving the breathing interval of a chair between us, where empty chairs were abunda

aid and did the wrong thing. But he was evidently actuated by a pure spirit of philanthropy, which would set the world t

se it was strong waters without coffee more often than with it. For a time it was a question which should conquer, the tempter or the better nature. Then came a period in which I was wretched and miserable, yielding and fighting alternately. Finally, I made a greater effort, and vowed that if strength were given me to overcome, I would dedicate my life to the Church. Soon after that I fell ill; sick almost unto

keen; two admirable qualities. We assured him that strong waters were no

t shook his he

ful career. You will say it contains many marvels. However late, it will not be too late for me. I never retire to bed before three in the morning, and am always broad awake at seven. Four hours' sleep in the twenty-four is all nature ever accords me. I have reason to believe that I shall be offered the next vacant See in the Church: I could place my finger upon the very spot: and my wakeful nights will enable me to do much work. Let me hope that wisdom and judgment may be accorded. But what am I doing?" drawing himself up. "Talking as th

ences are not always desirable; but then we reflected that confidences need not be confessions. The experiences even of a simple

Père Hyacinthe as we had many a time watched him in a Paris pulpit preaching with so much earnestness, fire and conviction, raising a crusade against

would reach the farthest corners of Notre Dame. We asked ourselves the question but could not answer it. The future holds her own secrets and makes no confidences. But strangely interested in Père Delormais-to make a

the table, and we noticed nothing about him but his distinguished appearance and Benjamin's portions. Yet he evidently had been closely studying us. The Si