A Voyage of Consolation

nk he would have felt it to be a little indecent. The courtyard was paved, and there were flowers on the stand in the middle of it, natural palms and artificial begonias mixed with the

ell sit out in the dark in a foreign capital with a family from your own State and not get to know them. Besides poppa never could overcome his feeling of indebtedness to Mr. Malt. They were taking Emmeline abroad for her health. She was

mance," said Mr. Malt, and his cigar end dropped like a falling star as he removed the ash. "Italy's been romantic ever since B.C. All through the time the rest of the world was inventing Magna Chartas and Doomsday Books, and Parliaments, and printing presses, and steam engines, Italy

d the beds--" began M

omological extremely indelicate. "Perfectly. You have only to go to the

not propre in Paris. We had to speak to the housemaid yesterday m

ered!" decla

he would say was, 'Jamais ici, mademoiselle

r, "isn't it about time fo

going to get up a little music

her performers. "Don't you go asking strangers to play, Emmeline

"I always have a kind of abandoned feeling,

and then the Senator said he t

d three whole days now. I presume you'

a look in at the Luxembourg picture gallery, and the Madeleine, and Napoleon's Tomb, and the site of th

se, when you were in that di

liking for live Frenchmen, up to the present, and I d

asant," said Mrs. Malt, "n

refrigerate them, you know. We send our

interrupted, "who never can se

urse," Mr. Malt went on. "You have to pr

on Uncle Sammy,"

ained. "First use he's ever been to his family. Well, there they were, seven of 'em, lying there lookin

uld like a little brandy in my coffee. Were the

nded briskly, "and one

claimed, and the silence that ensued was one of

at all, evenings?" Mr. Mal

daytime, we haven't felt able to enjoy anything at night e

ere's a good deal going o

ld," said the Senator,

call characteristic shows

our ladies?" as

but I don't believe they

in originality and enterprise, but I generally ask myself about an entertainment, 'Are Mrs.

t that way," remarke

t them myself," said

" remarked Miss Callis, "h

ained of it. Her remarks were never polished by reflection. She ca

or said w

, Mr. Wick. There'

h pictures, Miss Call

ench," said

her preparatory to withdr

rtine, with a note-book and pencil in his hand, seated in a t

ed voice, "there's nothing so

iss Callis. "It was simply immora

objectionable in that," momma r

ssed in their traditions," replied Miss Callis, "

hed she had the courage to

bourg and the Louvre. The Louvre, I acknowledge, is worthy of a se

the night. "There's all Italy and Switzerland waiting for us, and they're bound to be done, b

Opera Comique, or what," said Mrs. Malt in affectionate criticism. "But we've b

be fair to do so; but I wonder these French rags, in a foreign tongue, aren't ashamed to be published in the same capital with it. It doesn't take above a quarter of an hour to read

houghtfully, as we ascended to the

atisfaction yet to experience. "Business before pleasure," he said, "certainly. But we've been improving our minds pretty hard for the last fe

safe," said momma, "and, if it is unsafe,

en the Senator proposes to incur any danger, she alw

s that made Paris imposing. We saw that it was a highway of traffic, and that the little, brisk, business-like steamers were full of people, who went about in them because it was the cheapest and most convenient way, and not at all for the pleasure of a trip by water. We noticed, too, a difference in these river-going people. Some of them carried baskets, and some of them read the Petit Journal, and they all comfortably submitted to the good-natured bullying of the mariner in charge. There were elderly women in black, with a button or two off their tight bodices, and children with patched shoes carrying an assortment of vegetables, and middle

neral public dislike so much as that. Every hotel-porter in Chicago knows that it's three hundred metres high, and that you can see through it all the way up. There

riptive pamphlet. "They want to sell a stranger too much information in this country," he said. "The meanest American intelligence is equal to stepping into an elevator and stepping out again." But he bought one nevert

-she did not wish to change her elevator. Inside she said she felt perfectly secure, but the tower itself she knew must waggle at that height when once you stepped out. In the end, however, we persuaded her not to go down before she had made the ascent, and sh

re up so high that the scenery, so far as Paris is concerne

ill fill you with a wild desire to throw yourse

future will there be fulfilled.' I suppose they did feel a bit uppish when they'd got as high as

one them all in ten minutes. As it is, we shall be in a position to say we've seen everything there is to be seen in Paris. Bramley won't be able to tell us it's a pity we've missed anything. However," he continued, "we must be conscientious about it

known to our family without interruption since he wore long clothes. Mr. Dod had come into his patrimony and simultaneously disappeared in the direction of Europe six months before, since when we had only heard vaguely that he had lost most of it, but was inalterably cheerful; and there was nobody, apparently, he expected so little or desired so much to see in Paris as the Senator, momma and me. Poppa called him "Dick, my boy," momma called him "my dear Dicky," I called him plain "Dick," and when this had been going on for, possibly, five minutes, the older and larger of the two ladies of the party swung round with a majesty I at once associated with my earlier London experiences, and regarded us through her pince nez. There was no mistaking her disapproval. I had seen it before. We were Americans

implied, however, that she could not possibly be held responsible for transatlantic connections by a former marriage. Momma was nervous, but collected. She bowed a distant Wastgaggle bow, an heirloom in the family, which gave Mrs. Portheris to underst

stly at Mrs. Portheris and firmly retaining

rtheris with a difficult smile,

ecially as you've been equally unfortunate with your second," said poppa sympathetically. "Well, I'm sure I'm pleas

for it. "I confess I am not in the habit of meeting my connections promiscuously abroad." When we came to analyse the impropriety of

oline. And if we had been able to make a more protracted stay than just about long enough,

. Portheris. "It is very unlikely

right," poppa rep

Dod, regarding Mrs. Portheris's impressive ba

n remarked in a leave-taking tone

nd about seem to think it embraces the biggest part of civilisation. I

heris, "we must rejoin the rest of o

en away from Illinois a good long time, but I'm not going to forget to congratulate Chicago on getting

ly, "and if there's any little Consulship in f

are now a Senator?" she inquired. "I had no idea of it. It is certainly a distinction-an American distinction, of c

me to the Capitol pretty regularly now. But I'd be sorry to think any more of myself on

n. "Dear me! A Senator-I suppose you must have a great deal of influence in your

and another, that afternoon, but for the moment it seemed to me uniquely amazing. We shook hands, however-it was the only thing to do-and Mr. Mafferton said this was indeed a surprise as if it were the most ordinary thing possible. Mrs. Portheris looked on at our greeting with an air of objecting to things she had not bee

t she should let an opportunity like that sl

were all very pleased about it. Your Queen has a very good reputation in our country. We t

of that. To have had a young relative presented without one's knowledge seems too extraordinary. No," she continued, turning to poppa, "the only thing I heard of t

. There was noth

nquire if you

Mrs. Portheris was too distant a relation to be gratified with such information in the publicity of the Eiffel Tower. But she merely looked at me with suspicion, and said it was much better that young people sho

st exhilarating in our democratic civilisation, and he was in excellent spirits. As the young lady of Mrs. Portheris's party joined us I thought I found a barometric reading in Mr. Dod's countenance that explained the situ

," I went on hastily as Isabel looked distressed, "you couldn't help it. I was very unexpected, and

It was lovely colour. "You know I haven't really," she said,

" remarked Mr. Dod, with the effect of announ

momma and Mr. Mafferton were already inside. Mrs. Portheris stood in the door. As Isabel entered,

ople," repeated

y?" asked Dicky doubtfully. "Suppo

d. Momma, from the interior, i

urch," remark

n, Dod?" demande

us about overcrowding, and I think it's better to run no risks

ow that, Mrs. Wick," said our

nsieur?" inquired the official attached

it would be safer," momma replied anxiously, and

e," said she, "I also will remain at the top;" but her determination arrived too late. With a ferocious gesture the little offic

of Mr. Dod, "why was t

Dicky. "Do you know

tly indeed,

ort of chum up with o

worlds,

disconsolate tha

u did in your humble way, you know, at election time. I can promise for the family that we'll

the Place de la Concorde looks down there, doesn't it! I

be fair to keep them waiting very long d

ppa's Aunt Caroline is a perfect fiend of a ch

ut the image of Senator Frye. Now he doesn't resemble Senator

ked intently at the hor

e began recklessly, but with the vision before my eyes of

I see the way it is," I interposed

be so difficult with an English girl. Doesn't seem to think such a t

not require international comparisons. By the way, how

wn them a good month, and the venerable one seemed to take to me considerably. There wasn't a cab she wouldn't let me call, nor a box at the theatre she wouldn't occupy, nor a supper she wouldn't try to enjoy. Used to ask me to tea. Inquired whether

el used to ask you whether you would have muf

ince then I haven't been waltzing in as I did before. Old lady seems to think there's a chance of keeping the family pure English-seems to think she'd like i

here. I know Mrs. Portheris is an old lady of no family, because she's a c

shes just as much when he

asked delicately, "whether M

ught to tell you, but the fact is Mafferton's just got the sack-I beg your pardon-just been con

hear," I said, "but I don't s

. What fellow would think twice of being throw

observed. "You are ju

evator, "was that we might travel together a bit and that you wouldn't

s, Rome again, Florence, Venice, Verona, up through the lakes to Switzerland, and so on. We leave to-mor

t with D