that animal; he broke into a great `haw! haw!' and Amelia and I could hardly refrain from laughing at his folly. She, however, with ready tact turned it off, saying to the bear, `come, come, Captain, we mustn't be too hard on him!' (Hard on me! on me! bless thee, Amelia!)

The sudden happiness of that moment nearly overcame me; tears rose to my eyes as I thought, `the wish of a Life is accomplished! I shall photograph an Amelia!' Indeed, I almost think I should have gone down on my knees to thank her, had not the table-cloth interfered with my so doing, and had I not known what a difficult position it is to recover from.

However, I seized an opportunity toward the close of the meal to give utterance to my overwrought feelings: turning toward Amelia, who was sitting next to me, I had just murmured the words, `there beats in this bosom a heart,' when a general silence warned me to leave the sentence unfinished. With the most admirable presence of mind she said, `some tart, did you say, Mr. Tubbs? Captain Flanaghan, may I trouble you to cut Mr. Tubbs some of that tart?'

`It's nigh done,' said the captain, poking his great head almost into it, `will I send him the dish, Mely?'

`No, sir!' I interrupted, with a look that ought to have crushed him, but he only grinned and said, `don't be modest now, Tubbs, me bhoy, sure there's plenty more in the larder.'

Amelia was looking anxiously at me, so I swallowed my rage--and the tart.

Luncheon over, after receiving directions by which to find the cottage, I attached to my camera the hood used for developing pictures in the open air, placed it over my shoulder, and set out for the hill which had been pointed out to me.

My Amelia was sitting in the window working, as I passed with the machine; the Irish idiot was with her. In reply to my look of undying affection, she said anxiously `I'm sure that's too heavy for you, Mr. Tubbs. Wo'n't you have a boy to carry it?'

`Or a donkey?' giggled the captain.

I pulled up short, and faced round, feeling that now, if ever, the dignity of Man, and the liberty of the subject, must be asserted. To her I merely said, `thanks, thanks!' kissing my hand as I spoke; then, fixing my eyes on the idiot at her side, I hissed through my clenched teeth, `we shall meet again, Captain!'

`Sure, I hope so, Tubbs,' said the unconscious blockhead, `sharp six is the dinner hour, mind!' A cold shiver passed over me; I had made my great effort, and had failed; I shouldered my camera again, and strode moodily on.

Two steps, and I was myself again; her eyes, I knew, were upon me, and once more I trod the gravel with an elastic tread. What mattered to me, in that moment, the whole tribe of captains? should they disturb my equanimity?

The hill was nearly a mile from the house, and I reached it tired and breathless. Thoughts of Amelia, however, bore me up. I selected the best point of view for the cottage, so as to include a farmer and cow in the picture, cast one fond look toward the distant villa, and, muttering, `Amelia, `tis for thee!' removed the lid of the lens; in 1 minute and 40 seconds I replaced it: `it is over!' I cried in uncontrollable excitement, `Amelia, thou art mine!'

Eagerly, tremblingly, I covered my head with the hood, and commenced the development. Trees rather misty--well! The wind had blown them about a little; that wouldn't show much--the farmer? well, he had walked on a yard or two, and I should be sorry to state how many arms and legs he appeared with-- never mind! call him a spider, a centipede, anything--the cow? I must, however reluctantly, confess that the cow had three heads, and though such an animal may be curious, it is not picturesque. However,


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