A.was not a coward on such occasions, and she had sufficient confidence in her guide; but it is rather trying for a lady to make the first step off a slippery slope of mud, on to an apology for a ladder which only stands up a few inches above the lower edge of the slope, and so affords no support for the hand: nor, after all, can bravery and trust quite make up for the want of steps.

We were a very long time in accomplishing the descent, for her feet were always out of her sight, owing to the shape which female dress assumes when its wearer goes down a ladder with her face to the front, especially when the ladder has suffered from ubiquitous compound fracture, and the ragged edges catch the unaccustomed petticoats.

It was quite as well the feet were out of sight, for some of the supports to which they were guided were not such as would have commended themselves to her, had she been able to see them.

At length, owing in great measure to the opportune assistance of two of the batons we had brought down with us for repairs, thanks also to the trunk of the fir-tree, we reached the snow; and poor A.was planted there, breaking through the top crust as a commencement of her acquaintance with it, till such time as I could bring M.down to join her.

The experience acquired in the course of A.'s descent led us to call to M.that she must get rid of that portion of her attire which gives a shape to modern dress; for the obstinacy and power of _mal-a-propos_ obstructiveness of this garment had wonderfully complicated our difficulties.