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"I should like to go to such a school as that," said John.

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Why?" asked Grimkie.

"Because the boys wear such a pretty uniform," said John.

"And I should not like to go,” said Grimkie. "Why not?" asked John.

"Because there is such a high wall around it, and a cross looking old concierge to guard the gate."

These two answers contain quite a good summary, in fact, of the advantages and disadvantages of living in France. Life wears in all its forms an extremely pretty dress, but liberty is every where, and in all the relations of life, greatly restricted.

Among other things that attracted the attention of the party in Caen, were the operations of the workmen in cutting the famous Caen stone. Grimkie seemed very much surprised when he first saw the men at work upon this stone, as they were cutting it with, saws having regular teeth, like those of the saws used in working upon wood. The truth is, that this famous stone is so soft when it comes from the quarry, that it can be cut almost as easily as chalk; but it hardens by being for some time exposed to the air. This gives it a great advantage over most

other kinds of stone, as a material for building, and great quantities of it are taken down in lighters, by a river which flows from Caen to the sea, which is ten or fifteen miles distant, and thence carried in ships to all parts of the world.

Florence said at first, when she heard Grimkie expressing surprise at seeing the men cutting immense blocks of stone in two with a saw, that she had often seen the same operation performed in the marble yards in New York. But Grimkie explained to her that the saws used for cutting marble had no teeth. They were smooth plates of steel, and they were only able to wear their way slowly through the stone, by means of sharp sand which was carried continuously into the cleft, by a small stream of water which was kept constantly running while the work was going on.

The party remained several days at Caen, spending the time in rambling about the town, and in making excursions in the environs, and then one morning, after breakfast, they all took their places in a little omnibus which came for them at the hotel, and were conveyed to the station; and there taking the train which came by soon afterward, they proceeded to Bayeux and took lodgings at the hotel of Madame Achard.

CHAPTER V.

BAYEUX.

BAYEUX as it was seen by our party when they approached it in the train, presented the appearance of a quiet rural town, reposing in the midst of green fields and gardens, and marked conspicuously at a distance of many miles by the towers, and, spires, and lofty battlemented roofs of an immense cathedral, rising from the centre of it, far above the other buildings.

The town was built in a very close and compact manner, the station being entirely outside of it, among green fields and gardens. Our party rode from the station into the town in a small omnibus, and they found when they entered it, that the streets were narrow, and paved with stone like those of a city, and bordered by ranges of stone houses three or four stories high, with great gateways here and there opening into beautiful gardens and grounds within. At the doors of many of the houses, women and girls, some singly and others in groups, were sitting at

work making lace, with the cushions on which the lace is made, and an endless number of bobbins attached to it, before them.

The hotel of Madame Achard they found was a plain looking house standing end to the street, with a long paved yard extending along the side of it to neat looking stables in the rear. Madame Achard herself, a handsome and motherly looking woman of middle age, accompanied by a waiter, a chambermaid, and a porter, received the party at the door, and conducted them to their rooms, when Grimkie had signified what rooms they required. Before leaving them Madame Achard asked them if they would take breakfast. Mrs. Morelle, who understood the question, said, “Yes,” at once.

"Yes, Grimkie," said she. "Tell her we will come down immediately to breakfast."

It was now afternoon, and yet it was not too late for what the French call breakfast, which is a meal in fact corresponding to what in England and America is called luncheon. So the party went down stairs as soon as they were ready, and were there directed to the dining-room, which was a sort of back parlor, with a pretty long table in it, ready set as if for dinner.

"If they ask us what we will have," said Mrs. Morelle, "we will choose and tell them, but if

they do not ask us, then we will take whatever they bring us, and thus we shall learn the customs of the country."

The waiter did not ask the party what they would have, but began immediately to bring in the breakfast. He first brought some bottles of cider and some bread and butter. He then began to bring in one after another a succession of dishes, changing the plates of the guests for every new dish. There was but little in each dish, but the succession was long, and the whole party found that the had had an abundant breakfast before they came to the end of the courses. First came boiled beef, then some nice kind of fish, then broiled chicken, then cutlets, then another kind of fish, then fricasseed potatoes, and so on until at length the entertainment was closed with a dessert consisting of cakes, tarts, raisins and almonds, and pears.

The first thing that Mrs. Morelle thought of after the breakfast was concluded was the tapestry; but on inquiry she found that it was not open to exhibition on that day, which as it happened was Saturday. So the party spent the afternoon in rambling about the town and the environs. The next day they attended service at the cathedral. The children gazed with wonder at the magnificent interior of the edifice, and at

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