Page:The Burton Holmes lectures; (IA burtonholmeslect04holm).pdf/283

 who had knocked at the door a stranger was reluctantly ushered out with such kind farewells as would have attended the departure of a friend. A moment after the door has closed behind us, we find ourselves once more upon the bridge, and from its parapets look out again upon the valley, overflowing with warm sunshine and carpeted with luxuriant green. We linger there in comtemplation for an hour.

PICTURESQUE PASSERS-BY

The view recalls a little excursion which I undertook one afternoon with my old guide and two small lazy donkeys. We crossed the valley, passing through fields of grain and orchards rich in fruit to a deserted hermitage upon the flank of yonder range of hills.

The keys to the old hermitage were in charge of a little girl who dwelt hard by in a sadly dilapidated house, which