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They descended cautiously among the black
trees to the chalet where they were to sleep.
As Montanelli entered the room where Arthur
was waiting for him at the supper table, he saw
that the lad seemed to have shaken off the ghostly
fancies of the dark, and to have changed into quite
another creature.
"Oh, Padre, do come and look at this absurd
dog! It can dance on its hind legs."
He was as much absorbed in the dog and its
accomplishments as he had been in the after-glow.
The woman of the chalet, red-faced and white-aproned,
with sturdy arms akimbo, stood by smiling,
while he put the animal through its tricks.
"One can see there's not much on his mind if he
can carry on that way," she said in patois to her
daughter. "And what a handsome lad!"
Arthur coloured like a schoolgirl, and the
woman, seeing that he had understood, went away
laughing at his confusion. At supper he talked of
nothing but plans for excursions, mountain
ascents, and botanizing expeditions. Evidently
his dreamy fancies had not interfered with either
his spirits or his appetite.


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