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'Your friend； sir；' said he； 'is……ha……is a little impatient； and； in
his impatience； is not perhaps fully sensible of what he owes
to……hum……to……but we will waive that； we will waive that。 Your friend is
a little impatient； sir。'
'It may be so； sir；' returned the other。 'But having had the honour of
making that gentleman's acquaintance at the hotel at Geneva； where we
and much good pany met some time ago； and having had the honour
of exchanging pany and conversation with that gentleman on several
subsequent excursions； I can hear nothing……no； not even from one of your
appearance and station； sir……detrimental to that gentleman。'
'You are in no danger； sir； of hearing any such thing from me。 In
remarking that your friend has shown impatience； I say no such thing。 I
make that remark； because it is not to be doubted that my son； being by
birth and by……ha……by education a……hum……a gentleman； would have readily
adapted himself to any obligingly expressed wish on the subject of the
fire being equally accessible to the whole of the present circle。 Which；
in principle； I……ha……for all are……hum……equal on these occasions……I
consider right。'
'Good；' was the reply。 'And there it ends！ I am your son's obedient
servant。 I beg your son to receive the assurance of my profound
consideration。 And now； sir； I may admit； freely admit； that my friend
is sometimes of a sarcastic temper。'
'The lady is your friend's wife； sir？'
'The lady is my friend's wife； sir。' 'She is very handsome。'
'Sir； she is peerless。 They are still in the first year of their
marriage。 They are still partly on a marriage； and partly on an
artistic； tour。'
'Your friend is an artist； sir？'
The gentleman replied by kissing the fingers of his right hand； and
wafting the kiss the length of his arm towards Heaven。 As who should
say； I devote him to the celestial Powers as an immortal artist！
'But he is a man of family；' he added。 'His connections are of the best。
He is more than an artist： he is highly connected。 He may； in effect；
have repudiated his connections； proudly； impatiently； sarcastically （I
make the concession of both words）； but he has them。 Sparks that have
been struck out during our intercourse have shown me this。'
'Well！ I hope；' said the lofty gentleman； with the air of finally
disposing of the subject； 'that the lady's indisposition may be only
temporary。'
'Sir； I hope so。'
'Mere fatigue； I dare say。'
'Not altogether mere fatigue； sir； for her mule stumbled to…day； and
she fell from the saddle。 She fell lightly； and was up again without
assistance； and rode from us laughing； but she plained towards
evening of a slight bruise in the side。 She spoke of it more than once；
as we followed your party up the mountain。'
The head of the large retinue； who was gracious but not familiar；
appeared by this time to think that he had condescended more than
enough。 He said no more； and there was silence for some quarter of an
hour until supper appeared。
With the supper came one of the young Fathers （there seemed to be no
old Fathers） to take the head of the table。 It was like the supper of
an ordinary Swiss hotel； and good red wine grown by the convent in more
genial air was not wanting。 The artist traveller calmly came and took
his place at table when the rest sat down； with no apparent sense upon
him of his late skirmish with the pletely dressed traveller。
'Pray；' he inquired of the host； over his soup； 'has your convent many
of its famous dogs now？'
'Monsieur； it has three。'
'I saw three in the gallery below。 Doubtless the three in question。' The
host； a slender； bright…eyed； dark young man of polite manners； whose
garment was a black gown with strips of white crossed over it like
braces； and who no more resembled the conventional breed of Saint
Bernard monks than he resembled the conventional breed of Saint Bernard
dogs； replied； doubtless those were the three in question。
'And I think；' said the artist traveller； 'I have seen one of them
before。'
It was possible。 He was a dog sufficiently well known。 Monsieur might
have easily seen him in the valley or somewhere on the lake； when he
（the dog） had gone down with one of the order to solicit aid for the
convent。
'Which is done in its regular season of the year； I think？'
Monsieur was right。
'And never without a dog。 The dog is very important。' Again Monsieur was
right。 The dog was very important。 People were justly interested in the
dog。 As one of the dogs celebrated everywhere； Ma'amselle would observe。
Ma'amselle was a little slow to observe it； as though she were not yet
well accustomed to the French tongue。 Mrs General； however； observed it
for her。
'Ask him if he has saved many lives？' said； in his native English； the
young man who had been put out of countenance。
The host needed no translation of the question。 He promptly replied in
French； 'No。 Not this one。'
'Why not？' the same gentleman asked。
'Pardon；' returned the host posedly； 'give him the opportunity and
he will do it without doubt。 For example； I am well convinced；' smiling
sedately； as he cut up the dish of veal to be handed round； on the young
man who had been put out of countenance； 'that if you； Monsieur； would
give him the opportunity； he would hasten with great ardour to fulfil
his duty。'
The artist traveller laughed。 The insinuating traveller （who evinced
a provident anxiety to get his full share of the supper）； wiping some
drops of wine from his moustache with a piece of bread； joined the
conversation。
'It is being late in the year； my Father；' said he； 'for
tourist…travellers； is it not？'
'Yes； it is late。 Yet two or three weeks； at most； and we shall be left
to the winter snows。' 'And then；' said the insinuating traveller； 'for
the scratching dogs and the buried children； according to the pictures！'
'Pardon；' said the host； not quite understanding the allusion。 'How；
then the scratching dogs and the buried children according to the
pictures？'
The artist traveller struck in again before an answer could be given。
'Don't you know；' he coldly inquired across the table of his panion；
'that none but smugglers e this way in the winter or can have any
possible business this way？'
'Holy blue！ No； never heard of it。'
'So it is； I believe。 And as they know the signs of the weather
tolerably well； they don't give much employment to the dogs……who have
consequently died out rather……though this house of entertainment is
conveniently situated for themselves。 Their young families； I am told；
they usually leave at home。 But it's a grand idea！' cried the artist
traveller； unexpectedly rising into a tone of enthusiasm。 'It's a
sublime idea。 It's the finest idea in the world； and brings tears into
a man's eyes； by Jupiter！' He then went on eating his veal with great
posure。
There was enough of mocking inconsistency at the bottom of this speech
to make it rather discordant； though the manner was refined and the
person well…favoured； and though the depreciatory part of it was so
skilfully thrown off as to be very difficult for one not perfectly
acquainted with the English language to understand； or； even
understanding； to take offence at： so simple and dispassionate was its
tone。 After finishing his veal in the midst of silence； the speaker
again addressed his friend。
'Look；' said he； in his former tone； 'at this gentleman our host； not
yet in the prime of life； who in so graceful a way and with such courtly
urbanity and modesty presides over us！ Manners fit for a crown！ Dine
with the Lord Mayor of London （if you can get an invitation） and observe
the contrast。 This dear fellow； with the finest cut face I ever saw； a
face in perfect drawing； leaves some laborious life and es up here
I don't know how many feet above the level of the sea； for no other
purpose on earth （except enjoying himself； I hope； in a capital
refectory） than to keep an hotel for idle poor devils like you and
me； and leave the bill to our consciences！ Why； isn't it a beautiful
sacrifice？ What do we want more to touch us？ Because rescued people of
interesting appearance are not； for eight or nine months out of every
twelve； holding on here round the necks of the most sagacious of dogs
carrying wooden bottles； shall we disparage the place？ No！ Bless the
place。 It's a great place； a glorious place！'
The chest of the grey…haired gentleman who was the Chief of the
important party； had swelled as if with a protest against his being
numbered among poor devils。 No sooner had the artist traveller ceased
speaking than he himself spoke with great dignity； as having it
incumbent on him to take the lead in most places； and having deserted
that duty for a little while。
He weightily municated his opinion to their host； that his life must
be a very dreary life here in the winter。
The host allowed to Monsieur that it was a little monotonous。 The air
was difficult to breathe for a length of time consecutively。 The cold
was very severe。 One needed youth and strength to bear it。 However；
having them and the blessing of Heaven……
Yes； that was very good。 'But the confinement；' said the grey…haired
gentleman。
There were many days； even in bad weather； when it was possible to
walk about outside。 It was the custom to beat a little track； and take
exercise there。
'But the space；' urged the grey…haired gentleman。 'So small。
So……ha……very limited。'
Monsieur would recall to himself that there were the refuges to visit；
and that tracks had to be made to them also。
Monsieur still urged； on the other hand； that the space was
so……ha……hum……so very contracted。 More than that； it was always the same；
always the same。
With a deprecating smile； the host gently raised and gently lowered his
shoulders。 That was true； he remarked； but permit him to say that almost
all objects had their various points of view。 Monsieur and he did not
see this poor life of his from the same point of view。 Monsieur was not
used to confinement。
'I……ha……yes； very true；' said the grey…haired gentleman。 He seemed to
receive quite a shock from the force of the argument。
Monsieur； as an English traveller； surrounded by all means of travelling
pleasantly； doubtless possessing fortune； carriages； and servants……
'Perfectly； perfectly。 Without doubt；' said the gentleman。
Monsieur could not easily place himself in the position of a person who
had not the power to choose； I will go here to…morrow； or there next
day； I will pass these barriers； I will enlarge those bounds。 Monsieur
could not realise； perhaps； how the mind acmodated itself in such
things to the force of necessity。
'It is true；' said Monsieur。 'We will……ha……not pursue the subject。
You are……hum……quite accurate； I have no doubt。 We will say no more。'
The supper having e to a close； he drew his chair away as he spoke；
and moved back to his former place by the fire。 As it was very cold
at the greater part of the table； the other guests also resumed their
former seats by the fire； designing to toast themselves well before
going to bed。 The host； when they rose from the table； bowed to all
present； wished them good night； and withdrew。 But first the insinuating
traveller had asked him if they could have some wine made hot； and as
he had answered Yes； and had presently afterwards sent it in； that
traveller； seated in the centre of the group； and in the full heat of
the fire； was soon engaged in serving it out to the rest。
At this time； the younger of the two young ladies； who had been silently
attentive in her dark corner （the fire…light was the chief light in the
sombre room； the lamp being smoky and dull） to what had been said of the
absent lady； glided out。 She was at a loss which way to turn when she
had softly closed the door； but； after a little hesitation among the
sounding passages and the many ways； came to a room in a corner of the
main gallery； where the servants were at their supper。 From these she
obtained a lamp； and a direction to the lady's room。
It was up the great staircase on the story above。 Here and there； the
bare white walls were broken by an iron grate； and she thought as she
went along that the place was something lik