--ROBERT BROWNING.

Our hotel had a big loggia, as large as a good-sized room, and we
dined in it, with a gorgeous stage setting. The mountains floated in
mid-sky, pearly pale, and magical under the rising moon. The little
circle of light from our pink-shaded candles on the table (I say our,
because Boy and I dined together) gave to the picture a bizarre
effect, which French artists love to put on canvas; a blur of
gold-and-rose artificial light, blending with the silver-green
radiance of a full moon.

I don't know what we had to eat, except that there were trout from the
river, and luscious strawberries and cream; but I know that the dinner
seemed perfect, and that the head waiter, a delightful person, brought
us champagne, with a long-handled saucepan wrapped in an immaculate
napkin, to do duty as an ice-pail. I wondered why I had not come
long ago to this place, named in honour of Augustus Caesar, and
why everybody else did not come. The ex-Brat was in the game
frame of mind. We talked of more things than are dreamed of in
philosophy--(other people's philosophy)--and there was not a book
which was a dear friend of mine that was not a friend of this strange
child's.

We sat until the moon was high, and the candles low. I felt curiously
happy and excited, a mood no doubt due in part to the climate of
Aosta, in part to the discovery of a congenial spirit, where I had
least expected to find one.

Last night, we had been, at best, on terms of armed neutrality;
to-night we were friends, and would continue friends, though we parted
to-morrow. But parting was not what we thought of at the moment. On
the contrary, half to our surprise, we found ourselves planning to see
Aosta in each other's company.

After ten o'clock, when, deliciously fatigued, I was on my way to my
room along a great arcaded balcony which ran the length of the house,
I met Joseph, lying in wait for me. My conscience pricked. I had
forgotten to send the poor, tired fellow definite instructions for the
next day. He had come to solicit them, but, if I could judge by
moonlight, he looked far from jaded; indeed, he had an air of
alertness, for him almost of gaiety.

"You and Finois can have a rest to-morrow and the day after," said I,
"while I do some sightseeing. I hear that I shall need one day at
least for the town, and another for a drive to the chateaux and
show-places of the neighbourhood. I hope you will be able to amuse
yourself."

"M