the satisfaction and pleasure of the mother in thus recovering her children, or those of the children in finding themselves once more safe under the protection of the mother, were most intense. In fact they were all as full of joy and gladness as it is possible to be.

In a few minutes the doors of the other room were opened and the people crowded in to point out their baggage. The courier came for Florence's "billet" as he called it, and John went with him to see what he would do. Mrs. Morelle and Florence remained where they were. In about five minutes John and Francisco returned, saying that the carriage was ready, and the whole party proceeded at once to the hotel where they were to lodge, which was the Grand Hotel of the Louvre.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE STRAITS OF DOVER.

Of course now that the children had been restored to the care of their mother all their anxities were at an end, and all the plans which Florence had formed for engaging passage for herself and John in an Atlantic steamer were abandoned. She had been greatly in doubt whether she should go to Havre and take a steamer there for America, or whether she should cross the channel and proceed through England to Liverpool, with a view of embarking there, in a ship of the Cunard line. All her perplexity on these subjects was now over, and she had nothing to do but give herself up to rest and enjoyment at the Grand Hotel of the Louvre, and to the pleasure of attending the various excursions which her mother planned in and around Paris during the time that they remained in the city.

They actually did remain in the city about a fortnight. The time then arrived for setting out

for England, for Mrs. Morelle had decided to go to Liverpool, and embark there in one of the ships of the Cunard line.

When the time drew near she asked the opinion of Florence and John in respect to the route to be taken in crossing the channel.

"Shall we cross from Boulogne to Folkstone, or from Calais to Dover ?" she asked.

"What is the difference ?" asked John.

"The boat from Boulogne is a tidal boat,” said Mrs. Morelle, "and varies the time according to the tide, and that brings it in the night on the day that we must go. The Calais boat goes always at the same hour, and that is in the day time, but if the tide is low we shall have to go out in a boat to get on board."

"Let us go by Calais then, mother," said John eagerly. "I should like to go out in a boat to get on board."

"Which would you like best, Florence ?" asked her mother.

"Which way is the nearest ?" asked Florence in return.

"The distance across the water is about the same, in both," replied her mother, "but the land journey is much nearer by the way of Boulogne."

"Then let us go by the way of Calais," said

Florence. "I should like to go the way that will give us the longest ride on the railway."

So it was decided to go by the way of Calais and Dover. Indeed, this is in some respects the most interesting and romantic route, being a less frequented and less common thoroughfare than the other.

When the appointed day arrived, the party set out from Paris for Calais, and they had a long but very pleasant ride upon the railway. They spent the night in a quaint and ancient hotel in Calais, and the next morning went on board a small boat at the quai, in order to be rowed out to the steamer, which was lying at anchor in the offing. It was a charming day, the air being mild and balmy, and the sea smooth as a mirror. The tide was low, so that the steamer could not come into the little port, and this was the reason why the passengers had to be conveyed out to it in boats. But over such smooth water, and in such a calm and pleasant summer morning, this mode of going on board proved only a pleasant adventure for all concerned.

The passage across the straits occupied about two hours, and when the steamer began to draw near to Dover, Mrs. Morelle and the children went forward to take a view of the town, which

occupies a very romantic situation in a deep valley that opens here into the interior between very lofty hills. One of these hills is crowned by the ruins of Dover Castle, so famous in the history of England. You can see John pointing out this castle to his mother and Florence in the engraving.

As the steamer drew near the port, they found the sea covered with sloops, schooners and fishing boats, all becalmed, and lying motionless upon the glassy surface of the water, with their sails hanging idly upon the masts. The steamer made her way swiftly through and among these vessels until she arrived at her landing-place, at the pier, a short distance outside the entrance to the little port. The tide was too low to allow of her going in.

As soon as the steamer was made fast, the passengers ascended to the pier by long stepladders built into the frame-work of it below, for the use of passengers landing when the tide is down. Mrs. Morelle and the children, preceded by the courier, went immediately to the head of the pier, where they found a magnificent hotel, known by the name of the Lord Warden Hotel.. It is so called from the name of the officer who acts as governor of Dover Castle, and of some