at a lofty crag right opposite.

It is just like a picture; the larch is such a bright yellow, and the plane trees are brown, and the beech and oak are red, and they are mixed with the black Scotch fir and the green ivy, and the bare rock peeps out here and there, and it is so pretty that I never saw any picture that I liked so well."

While we were thus occupied in conversation, and in admiring the scenery through which we passed, the coach was trundling on its course, and at length brought us in sight of a broad valley, where a large stream joined the Tay. I looked to my little guide, and learned that the tributary which we saw was the Tummel. "It is the Tummel that the song speaks about, sir."

"Ah! indeed," I replied, "and where is the Garry?"

"I have heard that it joins the Tummel behind those hills, sir, but I have never been there."

"And that is Athole, I suppose."

66

Yes, sir, and over there is the Pass of Killiecrankie."

My young friend, I found, had profited by her teacher's instructions, and was able to tell me about the battle, which renders this place so famous. Another hour's drive brought us alongside of a picturesque old castle, to which my companion directed my attention as soon as it was in sight.

“That is Grandtully Castle," she said, "and I have heard the master say that Sir Walter Scott writes about it in one of his novels, but I have never read it.”

"Why, I suppose it is Tullyveolan ?"

"I think that is the name he called it, sir; but now we are going to turn this corner, and you must be ready to stand up, and look right in front; for every stranger who comes says it is the finest view in all the Highlands."

I followed the advice, and was rewarded

with the most magnificent view I have ever seen. My pleasure was increased by the information of my little guide. "That is the

Tay again, sir," said she, "running through the Strath, and that sharp peak on the right hand Schehallion, and the dark wooded hill in

front is Drummond Hill, and behind it is the highest hill in Perthshire, Ben Lawers. You see a little patch of snow on it. And just beside us is the village where you are going to."

In a few minutes the coach reached its destination, and I parted from my little guide, after making a bargain to meet her the next morning, and be conducted by her over the beauties of her own home.

It is unnecessary to mention particularly what we saw; the scenery was of the highest beauty, and my enjoyment of it was increased by the presence of such an intelligent companion. She was particularly delighted to learn that I was a botanist. She was very fond of wild flowers, she told me, and had gathered a great many and dried them, and gummed them on paper, but she was at a great loss for the names of them. I wrote down for her the names of such flowers as we gathered, and found her of the greatest service

to me, as her habits of noticing everything enabled her to lead me to places where strange plants were to be seen; and I added to my collection several specimens that were quite new to me. She had a great fancy for ferns and

mosses, and I shewed her some of the latter through my glass, beautifully magnified, to her great delight; and I gave her a lesson in distinguishing the chief varieties of ferns, which she picked up with great eagerness.