prise that the place was excessively crowded, whereas the gardens were attended by but few, and through the unparalleled museum they had proceeded comparatively alone. They pressed onward, however, and passed a room in which were some imitations of pictures, brilliant in colouring, but not, as they thought, delicately delineated. By and by, they reached the place where the finest carpets are made, and observed with surprise that they were actually wrought with the wrong side presented to the eye of the workman. It struck them that these costly carpets were the most beautiful things of the kind ever beheld; but they grieved much for those who laboured, seeing that the work was very slowly performed, and very poorly paid for. Proceeding, they found a great variety of pictures in hand, but the brilliancy of the material constituted the principal charm in the object. This was a confirmed impression, when, on their return, they entered the principal room in the establishment. Here was a portrait of the king, taken from that which they had seen and admired at the Lux

embourg, and its great inferiority proved the decisive advantage which painting had over the more clumsy process and materials, even when worked by the most skilful hands. Mrs. Egerton, indeed, maintained—and with great truth-that the works of Miss Linwood were executed with a truth and delicacy which rivalled painting, and with which nothing at the Gobelins could compete.

"You forget the beautiful carpets, mamma," remarked Emily.

"No, my dear," replied her mother; "I remember both their beauty and their price. Commend me to our own manufactures; they are quite good enough to walk upon, I assure you."

CHAPTER VI.

THE party at Mr. R.'s in the evening, proved a very pleasurable one to the younger of our friends, and an interesting one to the elder; as it contained several literary men of eminence, two or three painters of celebrity, the same agreeable officer whom they had met with before, and an English one, Colonel H., with whose clever novel, displaying great knowledge of Spanish and Moorish history, Mr. and Mrs. Egerton had been much charmed during the preceding winter. His daughter, a lovely and highly accomplished young woman, they were also delighted with. Their host and hostess, and all the young people, French and English, joined in the gay quadrille; and Mr. and Mrs. Egerton felt happy to see that, after the first blushes of Emily were over, there was no awkwardness either in her manners, or those of the boys; yet there might be less of elegance in their movements than in the young ladies of the family. Of the French, they most admired

the daughters of M. Borghers, whose lady, a most amiable Englishwoman, was also of the party-its most peculiar character was simplicity and happiness; the rooms were, indeed, elegant, well lighted, adorned by splendid glasses and beautiful flowers; and several very handsome women were present, but neither in dress nor any other mode of expensive decoration, was there the slightest pretence to anything beyond the means of the party, or inconsistent with their situation: everything bespoke modesty, taste, and good sense; and again our worthy couple warmly eulogized their evening's entertainment. Charles alone rejoiced when it was over; for his head ached; and the commiserating looks and inquiries of his young companions confused him so much, that he took refuge in pleading ignorance of their language, beyond the necessity.

The next morning, as the swelling had subsided, and they were anxious above all things to see the boulevards, of which they had scarcely as yet got a glance; Mr. Egerton proposed, in the first place, that they

should proceed to the Boulevard des Capucines, and thence go through successive streets of the same description, thereby half encircling ancient Paris, until they arrived at the Place de la Bastille, and then

"Oh!" cried Charles, "that is the place of all others to look at! To be sure, the Bastille itself is gone; but there is the glorious pillar, with all the names of its destroyers carved on it, to remain for ever and ever! And there is the Elephant, the huge Elephant of Buonaparte ! Dear papa, of all things-"

The ardent exclamations of the enthusiastic boy were cut short by a noisy contention at the room door, apparently respecting right of entrance; as Samuel, the footman, was heard repeatedly to say, "I tell you, good woman, their breakfast is on the table; they can't be disturbed;" whilst another, in shrill accent, cried out, "Je suis pauvre femme; mais je vous entraite-je vous prie, je-"

The entreaty was cut short by an English waiter opening the door, and beginning an