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CHAPTER XV.

LOOKING FOR LODGINGS.

"THIS is a nice hotel," said Mrs. Morelle. "Yes, Auntie," said Grimkie. “It is a very nice hotel indeed."

It was a very pleasant little sitting-room that they were in, with a bright fire blazing in the grate. Mrs. Morelle was sitting in a comfortable arm chair before the fire, and Grimkie, Florence, and John, were looking out at the window. They saw before them a large harbor, including two or three extensive basins, all enclosed by long piers of solid masonry, running out half a mile into the sea. Within the basins a great number of steamers and ships were lying. Among them was the Comet, the steamer in which they had come. She was blowing off her surplus steam. Beyond was the castle on the island, and to the left on the mainland, were the impending cliffs and precipitous slopes which bordered the promontory on the side toward the town.

"It is a very nice hotel," said Florence, "and there is a nice lookout from the windows, but

Auntie," added Grimkie, by way g the argument, "there is a boat Huernsey, our next place, almost we can stay here as long as we n watch for a pleasant day to go We can take the lodgings first for en after that by the day, until we y to go."

mused a moment in silence, and

a great deal of trouble to go out lodgings. We don't know anyhe town, or where the pleasant we inquire at the hotel, very likely some place that they are interested ng, and yet one that would not

o and find the lodging, Auntie," 'and come and bring you word. in here at the hotel. They will

would like "But yo Mrs. More

"No, m
engage the
"Well,
there will

and look,-
until I com
So Mrs.
girl, one of
Mrs. More
girl went a
her bonne

mother goc
accompanie
concluded 1

ings, but to the shippin

til they sho

They always

these English hotels. You see we

On their coming up. interesting

e books to read.

when we find some rooms that we think y would like, we will come and tell you."

"But you must not engage the rooms," sa Mrs. Morelle.

"No, mother," said Florence, “ we will r engage them until you come and see them." "Well," said Mrs. Morelle; "I don't see th there will be any great harm in letting you and look, -provided you don't engage the roo1 until I come."

So Mrs. Morelle rang the bell. A nice looki girl, one of the waiters of the hotel, answered Mrs. Morelle asked her for some books. T girl went away to bring some. Florence put her bonnet and shawl again, and bidding h mother good bye, went out with Grimkie. Joh accompanied them down stairs, though he ha concluded not to go with them in search of lod ings, but to amuse himself on the piers amor the shipping, and in the neighboring streets, un til they should return.

On their way down stairs they met the gi coming up, bringing with her an armful of ver interesting looking books.

three children reached the street, rence and Grimkie good bye, and the piers. Florence and Grimkie into a street, which seemed to e heart of the town.

■ we know which way to go?” e. "Don't you think we had

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know what to inquire for," said or we don't know where we want st way will be to walk about till - centre of the town, and then find t streets, and look for signs of t," in the windows."

and Florence walked on they were d how large the town seemed to anched off around them in every ently they came to a carriage-stand, s a long line of carriages waiting mong these were several Hansom A Hansom cab is a vehicle used

woing on
of square w
shops, and a
corners of st
"We mus
town," said C
insurance offi
the post-office
After going
long but rath
of which mad
street was na
carriages to b
the sidewalk
street, great
were seen wa

shops, or lo
windows. L
and handso
and on look

seen with ch upon the ch standing be

sengers, to the horse.

Going on a little farther, they came to a kin of square with hotels on the sides of it, an shops, and a bank, and an insurance office, on th corners of streets near.

"We must be pretty near the centre of th town," said Grimkie. "I see the bank and a Insurance office; and I expect we shall come t the post-office pretty soon."

After going a little farther, they came into long but rather narrow street, full of shops, som of which made quite a stylish appearance. Th street. was narrow, and there were scarcely an carriages to be seen or heard in it. But upo the sidewalks, and even in the middle of th street, great numbers of gentlemen and ladie were seen walking to and fro, and going into th shops, or looking at the goods displayed at the windows. Many of the shops were quite larg and handsome, and extended to a great depth and on looking into them, long counters could be seen with chairs before them, and ladies sitting upon the chairs, looking at silks, and ribbons, o standing before a large mirror, and trying on

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