a drop of rain; or if one black flying monster poured itself
like a water-spout on the parched city, laying the flowers with its
violence, the thirsty earth licked it up, scarce leaving a trace. Summer
lightning quaked in long sheets over the horizon; the geese were lying
dead on the common from drought; and the restless night was haunted by
the tramp of straying horses on the wooden side-walks.

"Round trips" were advertised in all the papers, and brackish
bathing-places on the St. Lawrence were already crowded. The Saguenay and
Marguerite rivers had carried off their fishing votaries, the black fly
worked its wicked will at Tadousac, where the "property" whale of
the ---- hotel had already been seen spouting, according to the waiter,
as he attended at the matitudinal _table-d'hote_. At any rate, seals
might be seen with the naked eye, and shot, too, by a wary seal-slayer in
a boat. Two such trophies were already in the hotel, affording unlimited
excitement to the visitors, who, indeed, were somewhat in need of
extraneous amusement, for the only resource the place could boast was
pulling a boat against the strong tide of the two rivers meeting, with
the alternative of a garment-rending scramble in the woods, a prey to the
nipping fly, and coming sometimes in undesired proximity to a wild cat.

Twice a week the Quebec boats, with Saguenay trippers, chiefly Americans,
halted at the hotel for an hour or two, and turned in their freight, who
invariably commenced dancing to the more amiable than tuneful strains of
an amateur performer in the public drawing-room.

This pleasure was partaken of quite as "sadly" as if they were our own
unfrisky compatriots; but it passed the time, and the males still further
diversified it by "smiling" at the bar.

The Rollestons, vacillating between Tadousac, the Falls, a trip in the
"Algoma," and a journey to Boston, their large party being an objection
to each and all, were finally attracted by an advertisement of a
fishing-lodge to be let or sold on Rice Lake.

This would be a _pied a terre_ for disposing of the impedimenta of the
family--governess and children--during the hot months, leaving the others
at liberty for flying excursions. The price was so ridiculous that
Colonel Rolleston bought it outright, jestingly saying to Lola that it
should be her marriage portion.

There had been a croquet party at "The Maples," but nearly every one was
gone except two or three who were remaini