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 I have longed much for an opportunity of conversing with some one who has made the last campaign.”

Mimili bustled about. Presently she came to the door with a maple rod, having a small net fastened to the end of it, across her shoulder. “Will you come along with me to the trout-stream?” And away I tripped with her to the brook, which ran past the house, at the distance of eighty or a hundred paces. A small square open cistern, hewn out of the rock, and furnished with a close grate, for the passage of the water, contained many score of the liveliest fish. The water was as transparent as crystal, so that one might see the bottom. Here Mimili was again quite the playful girl. Had you seen her cowering on the margin of the cistern, crumbling bread into the water, whistling and talking to the trout, which darted like lightning to the surface, you could not have supposed her to be more than thirteen at the utmost. Dipping the net into the water, she took up at once as many fish as were sufficient for supper. In this operation, in spite of all her care, she wetted her fingers a little, and rompingly shook off the drops in my face. As soon as I could open my eyes after this unexpected salute, I took up as much water as I could hold in my hand, for the purpose of returning it with interest, when she bounded with her net, and the fish floundering in it,