She was young and well dressed; a black silk gown fitted her slender form to perfection; her straw hat was fastened to the saddle, and her long chestnut hair floated in disorder over her pale cheeks.
As she heard my voice, she opened her eyes, which in her fright she had instinctively closed; they seemed to me the most beautiful I had ever seen in my life.
"She looked at the precipice and turned away with a shudder.

Her glance rested upon me, and then upon the rhododendrons which I held in my hand.
"The frightened expression on her face was replaced immediately by one of childish curiosity.
"'What pretty flowers!' she exclaimed, in a fresh, young voice.

'Are those rhododendrons, Monsieur ?' "I presented her my bouquet without replying; as she hesitated about taking it, I said: "'If you refuse these flowers, Madame, I shall not believe that you have pardoned me.' "By this time, the persons who were with her had joined us.

There were two other ladies, three or four men mounted upon mules, and several guides.

At the word rhododendron, a rather large, handsome fellow, dressed in a pretentious style, slipped from his mule and climbed the somewhat steep precipice in quest of the flowers which seemed to be so much in favor.