tion, where it began to go slower and slower again, until at length it stopped, and then the doors of all the carriages were opened by the railway porters outside, and the passengers began all together to step out upon the platform.

John, after helping his mother and Florence to descend, asked the porter if he would be so good as to take a cab for his party; and at the same time pointed out the trunk, which was upon the top of the carriage that they had been in.

The porter took the trunk, and led the way out by a great door to a place where a line of cabs were standing, and the whole party were soon seated in one of them, and on their way to the Adelphi Hotel.

CHAPTER XXI.

EMBARKATION FOR AMERICA.

WHEN the morning of the day arrived for embarking on board the steamer, John, or as he called himself now, Francisco the courier, advised his family to go on board very early.

66

"I think," said he, "that we had better go as soon as we can after breakfast."

In giving this advice John acted quite in character, as his real motive for wishing to be on board early was to enjoy, for himself, the pleasure and excitement of seeing what was going on, on board the ship, which he much preferred to spending the time at the hotel, where he had already seen everything that there was to be seen; and couriers very often give advice to their employers with a special view to accomplish certain purposes of their own.

Mrs. Morelle had no objection however to going on board at an early hour. So she told John that they would have breakfast at eight o'clock, and he might have the cab at the door at nine.

.

Accordingly at about five minutes before nine o'clock John came to his mother's bed-room with a porter, to get the trunks and the other luggage. Mrs. Morelle and Florence were all ready. John had previously paid the bill. The trunks which had been forwarded from Paris had been sent directly on board, and Mrs. Morelle expected to find them in her state-room; so that there was nothing to do but to put the travelling baggage upon the top of the cab, or fly, as they call it, where there was a small iron railing to secure it, and then to get in themselves.

They drove from the hotel down to the landing stage, where they were to go on board a small tug boat that was to take them, together with other passengers, out to the steamer, which was anchored two or three miles distant, in the stream.

Steamers in leaving Liverpool very seldom go. directly from a pier, for there are no piers there, like those in the American harbors, but docks, instead, which can only be opened at high tide. The reason is that the tide rises and falls so much there, that at low tide large vessels cannot be kept afloat except in inclosed basins, or docks, as they are called.

The landing stage is an immense floating pier

large enough for twenty river steamers to fasten to it, and containing several buildings. It rises and falls with the tide, and is connected with the main land by two long iron bridges, jointed at the ends. The cab stopped at the head of one of these bridges and John conducted his party down the descent, for the tide was now low. A porter brought down the trunk. The porter led the way to the tender which was lying near one end of the stage, and John and his party went on board.

Before a great while the tender put off, and conveyed the whole party of passengers out upon the river, winding its way through and among the shipping until at last she reached the great steamer; and then the passengers began to ascend the immense long step-ladder which led up the side and so got on board.

John led the way, and after some inquiry he found his mother's state-room, and after ushering her and Florence into it, he went back to see about the trunk. Just as he had finished attending to this business, and had seen the trunk deposited in a safe place where it was to remain until the steward should be at leisure to carry the baggage down to the state-rooms where it belonged, he saw Florence coming toward him.

66

Francisco," said Florence, speaking in a very

grave and demure manner, "my mother would like to see you."

So John followed Florence down the winding stairway, and into the state-room. His mother was sitting upon a cushioned settee, which extended on one side of the state-room. She bowed to John as he came in, just as if he had been a real courier, and said,

Well, Francisco, have you got everything arranged ?"

"Yes, mother," said John. He should have said, Yes, madam.

"Then you have finished your work," said Mrs. Morelle, speaking still in a very grave and dignified manner, "and I am happy to say to you that both my daughter and myself have been extremely well satisfied with the manner in which you have performed your duties; and if we should ever hereafter come to Europe, and if you should be disengaged, we shall wish very much to employ you again. There is nothing left now but to give you your bono-mano.”

So saying Mrs. Morelle drew out her purse, and taking from it a five dollar gold piece, one which she had brought with her from America, she handed it to John.

John looked very much astonished, and as he took the piece he asked,