induces him to offer, we had better drive on."

They soon crossed the bridge, and drove through the Champs Elysées to the Rue de Ponthieu, where they for the present dropped M. Borghers, who resided in that street, and proceeded to call on two ladies, who lived in the corner house, and were much esteemed friends of Mrs. Egerton's, being Englishwomen, and her former schoolfellows. They were received with delight, and an arrangement was made for the young people to accompany Madame C. and Miss D. to a very pretty little theatre close by, where equestrian feats were performed. As the next day would be Holy Thursday, a very different engagement was advised; and they all gladly agreed to attend divine service at the church of St. Roch, where the service was particularly splendid.

CHAPTER IV.

OUR young party having been repeatedly at Astley's, did not think much either of the horses or the riders they now saw; and, the next morning, being desirous to attain a proper degree of seriousness for the solemn service to which they were devoted, they made no observations on the matter, beyond thanking the ladies, their friends.

Arrived at the noble church of St. Roch, they were struck with its architectural ele. gance, the fine sculpture which appeared on the walls, the peculiarity of a great number of common chairs beginning to be eagerly occupied, and the image of the holy Virgin and Child, crowned with newly gathered white roses. However beautiful in itself, this struck the protestant children as intrusive; they were afraid lest they should look at it too often, and forget the duties of the service. In a short time,

"The pealing organ gave the note of praise ;" sweet voices and various instruments joined in

the loud chorus, and every heart swelled in unison with the holy anthem. Prayers followed but the priests were at too great a distance for the unaccustomed ears of foreigners to understand many words; and, the church being excessively full, they were annoyed by the crowd and the heat. On rising, they first became sensible of that peculiar grandeur and imposing ceremony which the Church of Rome adopts, although there are few pictures in the church of St. Roch, and little gilding. But now there came forward from the altar, first, a great number of young choristers in procession, who with great difficulty made their way through the crowd. They were arrayed in simple black and white; and their young faces and sweet voices were pleasing. They were followed by another young band, gaudily bedizened, bearing censers, which they tossed about in such a way as to scent the whole church with their incense. After them came twenty or thirty young women, who were mistaken for the novices of some neighbouring convent; but this was found afterwards to have

been a mistake, as females were hired for the occasion, and chosen for their prettiness.

All their garments were perfectly white; long muslin veils descended from their heads, and but partially revealed their faces. They sang in response with the choristers; and the two foremost carried a picture of the Virgin and Child, painted on white silk, and richly ornamented. These young females were followed by four boys, carrying a very large tray, on which were placed long rolls of very rich looking cake, cut into pieces which were subsequently offered to the congregation by the priests, who closed the procession in a very considerable body. The garments of these gentlemen were of the most gorgeous description, they being literally stiff with silver, gold, and most beautiful embroidery. Frederick thought they

must be intended to resemble the robes of Aaron, seeing that nothing could be less like the simplicity and humility of our Divine Master and His lowly followers. It so happened, that the gentlemen thus bedizened were all singularly plain, which made their

personal adornments appear more incongruous; and our young observer might again have said man had done his part, but nature had been niggardly."

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As the procession moved down the middle, and afterwards round the whole church, it was long in performing; and the sermon which followed was very short; though Mr. Egerton thought it very good. The latter part was, however, lost to all who were present, from the bickering of the women who demanded payment for the seats. It appeared, that upon the feast of the Ascension, they could demand four sous for a chair; but two being the usual price, the advance was generally resisted. Mrs. Egerton, on returning, observed, "that she hoped people would be allowed to retain their pews in England, since no arguments, however specious, could reconcile her to such a scene in a protestant church, where a pious cheerfulness ought to prevail, chastened by a proper degree of seriousness. To be disputing about the price of a seat was as bad as having money changers and dove sellers in the temple."