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and such panions upon whom I never looked； and never shall look；
I and my child will dwell together inseparable； on the Great Saint
Bernard； outlasting generations who will e to see us； and will never
know our name； or one word of our story but the end。'
The living travellers thought little or nothing of the dead just then。
They thought much more of alighting at the convent door； and warming
themselves at the convent fire。 Disengaged from the turmoil； which was
already calming down as the crowd of mules began to be bestowed in the
stable； they hurried shivering up the steps and into the building。 There
was a smell within； ing up from the floor； of tethered beasts； like
the smell of a menagerie of wild animals。 There were strong arched
galleries within； huge stone piers； great staircases； and thick walls
pierced with small sunken windows……fortifications against the mountain
storms； as if they had been human enemies。 There were gloomy vaulted
sleeping…rooms within； intensely cold； but clean and hospitably prepared
for guests。 Finally； there was a parlour for guests to sit in and sup
in； where a table was already laid； and where a blazing fire shone red
and high。
In this room； after having had their quarters for the night allotted
to them by two young Fathers； the travellers presently drew round the
hearth。 They were in three parties； of whom the first； as the most
numerous and important； was the slowest； and had been overtaken by
one of the others on the way up。 It consisted of an elderly lady； two
grey…haired gentlemen； two young ladies； and their brother。 These were
attended （not to mention four guides）； by a courier； two footmen； and
two waiting…maids： which strong body of inconvenience was acmodated
elsewhere under the same roof。 The party that had overtaken them； and
followed in their train； consisted of only three members： one lady and
two gentlemen。 The third party； which had ascended from the valley
on the Italian side of the Pass； and had arrived first； were four in
number： a plethoric； hungry； and silent German tutor in spectacles； on
a tour with three young men； his pupils； all plethoric； hungry； and
silent； and all in spectacles。
These three groups sat round the fire eyeing each other drily； and
waiting for supper。 Only one among them； one of the gentlemen belonging
to the party of three； made advances towards conversation。 Throwing out
his lines for the Chief of the important tribe； while addressing himself
to his own panions； he remarked； in a tone of voice which included
all the pany if they chose to be included； that it had been a long
day； and that he felt for the ladies。 That he feared one of the
young ladies was not a strong or accustomed traveller； and had been
over…fatigued two or three hours ago。 That he had observed； from his
station in the rear； that she sat her mule as if she were exhausted。
That he had； twice or thrice afterwards； done himself the honour of
inquiring of one of the guides； when he fell behind； how the lady did。
That he had been enchanted to learn that she had recovered her spirits；
and that it had been but a passing disfort。 That he trusted （by this
time he had secured the eyes of the Chief； and addressed him） he might
be permitted to express his hope that she was now none the worse； and
that she would not regret having made the journey。
'My daughter； I am obliged to you； sir；' returned the Chief； 'is quite
restored； and has been greatly interested。'
'New to mountains； perhaps？' said the insinuating traveller。
'New to……ha……to mountains；' said the Chief。
'But you are familiar with them； sir？' the insinuating traveller
assumed。
'I am……hum……tolerably familiar。 Not of late years。 Not of late years；'
replied the Chief； with a flourish of his hand。
The insinuating traveller； acknowledging the flourish with an
inclination of his head； passed from the Chief to the second young lady；
who had not yet been referred to otherwise than as one of the ladies in
whose behalf he felt so sensitive an interest。
He hoped she was not inmoded by the fatigues of the day。
'Inmoded； certainly；' returned the young lady； 'but not tired。'
The insinuating traveller plimented her on the justice of the
distinction。 It was what he had meant to say。 Every lady must doubtless
be inmoded by having to do with that proverbially unacmodating
animal； the mule。
'We have had； of course；' said the young lady； who was rather reserved
and haughty； 'to leave the carriages and fourgon at Martigny。 And the
impossibility of bringing anything that one wants to this inaccessible
place； and the necessity of leaving every fort behind； is not
convenient。'
'A savage place indeed；' said the insinuating traveller。
The elderly lady； who was a model of accurate dressing； and whose manner
was perfect； considered as a piece of machinery； here interposed a
remark in a low soft voice。
'But； like other inconvenient places；' she observed； 'it must be seen。
As a place much spoken of； it is necessary to see it。'
'O！ I have not the least objection to seeing it； I assure you； Mrs
General；' returned the other； carelessly。
'You； madam；' said the insinuating traveller； 'have visited this spot
before？' 'Yes；' returned Mrs General。 'I have been here before。 Let me
mend you； my dear；' to the former young lady； 'to shade your face
from the hot wood； after exposure to the mountain air and snow。 You；
too； my dear；' to the other and younger lady； who immediately did so；
while the former merely said； 'Thank you； Mrs General； I am Perfectly
fortable； and prefer remaining as I am。'
The brother； who had left his chair to open a piano that stood in
the room； and who had whistled into it and shut it up again； now came
strolling back to the fire with his glass in his eye。 He was dressed in
the very fullest and pletest travelling trim。 The world seemed hardly
large enough to yield him an amount of travel proportionate to his
equipment。
'These fellows are an immense time with supper；' he drawled。 'I wonder
what they'll give us！ Has anybody any idea？'
'Not roast man； I believe；' replied the voice of the second gentleman of
the party of three。
'I suppose not。 What d'ye mean？' he inquired。
'That； as you are not to be served for the general supper； perhaps you
will do us the favour of not cooking yourself at the general fire；'
returned the other。
The young gentleman who was standing in an easy attitude on the hearth；
cocking his glass at the pany； with his back to the blaze and his
coat tucked under his arms； something as if he were Of the Poultry
species and were trussed for roasting； lost countenance at this
reply； he seemed about to demand further explanation； when it was
discovered……through all eyes turning on the speaker……that the lady with
him； who was young and beautiful； had not heard what had passed through
having fainted with her head upon his shoulder。
'I think；' said the gentleman in a subdued tone； 'I had best carry
her straight to her room。 Will you call to some one to bring a light？'
addressing his panion； 'and to show the way？ In this strange rambling
place I don't know that I could find it。'
'Pray； let me call my maid；' cried the taller of the young ladies。
'Pray； let me put this water to her lips；' said the shorter； who had not
spoken yet。
Each doing what she suggested； there was no want of assistance。 Indeed；
when the two maids came in （escorted by the courier； lest any one should
strike them dumb by addressing a foreign language to them on the road）；
there was a prospect of too much assistance。 Seeing this； and saying as
much in a few words to the slighter and younger of the two ladies；
the gentleman put his wife's arm over his shoulder； lifted her up； and
carried her away。
His friend； being left alone with the other visitors； walked slowly up
and down the room without ing to the fire again； pulling his black
moustache in a contemplative manner； as if he felt himself mitted
to the late retort。 While the subject of it was breathing injury in a
corner； the Chief loftily addressed this gentleman。
'Your friend； sir；' said he； 'is……ha……is a little impatient； and； in
his impatience； is