overed hills that bounded the valley, on the right. In
some instances, the woods extended on both sides down to the river,
throwing an agreeable shade over the way-farers, and shedding abroad
a cool, moist freshness, that brought with itself a woodland-scent,
compounded of the fragrance of sassafras, and fern, and sweet-briar,
and mosses, and unknown plants. Then, again the road would run for
a considerable distance through an open space, unshaded by trees, to
cross, a little further on, another belt of woods, thus making their
darkened recesses doubly grateful from the contrast of alternating
light and shade, while all along the stream murmured a soft expression
of thanks for the lovely country it irrigated, for the blue sky, that
mirrored itself in its bosom with floating clouds, for the sunshine
sparkling on its ripples, and for the overhanging woods, and birds,
that sung among the branches.

The disordered spirit of Armstrong was not insensible to the charm.
He gazed round, and drank in the beauty by which he was surrounded.
He scented the sweetness of the woods, and it seemed to impart an
agreeable exhilaration. In the pauses of the conversation, hitherto
carried on almost entirely by Judge Bernard, he listened to the
monotonous, yet soothing flow of the water, and it sounded like an
invitation to cast off trouble. As he listened the shooting pain
in his head diminished, his thoughts became less sombre, and he
surrendered himself to something like enjoyment. Very soon it seemed
as if he were exerting himself to be agreeable to his companion, and
to make up, by taking a more active part in the conversation, for
former silence and neglect.

"This clear river," he said, "this beautiful valley, with its quiet
woods, are a blessing to me to-day. It is a pleasure to breathe the
air. Has Italy bluer skies?"

"The encomiums of travellers on the skies of Italy are to be received
by us with some qualification," answered the Judge. "They are mostly
written by Englishmen, and the comparison is between the humid climate
of England and the drier one of Italy. This being borne in mind, the
praises lavished on Italian skies are just. But as compared with ours,
they can boast of little or no superiority in beauty. I have seen as
gorgeous heavens in my own country as ever glorified the land of the
Caesars."

"And how is it with the landscape?"

"There we must yield to Europe. We have nothing to be compared with
the grandeur o